BAJURA, NOV 7: All nine wards of Koti VDC of Bajura have been facing the shortage of drinking water for years.
The population of the VDC is over 4,000. “Local people have been depending on the river and ponds for drinking water,” said Kaluwa Lawar, local resident of Koti. “Water sources have dried up due to floods and landslides. Besides, water taps are dilapidated. We have to walk long distances for fetching water, so wed don't have much time left for other household chores.”
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People from different castes and communities such as Muslim, Shahi, Malla, Bishwakarma, and Nepali live in the VDC. Not a single village of the VDC has properly-managed taps.
The planning and programs are not effective, said locals. “Last year's flood damaged the newly-constructed taps.”
According to the local residents, they have been facing the problem because the budget for the drinking water management is under the hold of the local political leaders.
Apart from the households, all five community schools in the VDC have drinking water scarcity for a long time now. “Students have to walk for half-an-hour from the school to get drinking water,” said Padam Bishta, accountant of the VDC.
The VDC was earlier declared an open defecation free zone. However, people are not using the toilets due to the shortage of water.
