The Dhand–Darlamchaur lift drinking water project in Isma Rural Municipality of Gulmi has been without service for two weeks after its transformer was damaged by a lightning strike. Due to the shortage of drinking water, local residents have been facing severe hardship.
The transformer of the project, which had been supplying water to 272 households in Wards 1, 3, and 4 of Isma Rural Municipality, was burnt on Baisakh 13 after being struck by lightning, leading to a complete halt in water distribution. Since then, locals have been forced to walk for hours to collect water from rainwater sources, streams, and springs.
The project was prepared in 2014 with a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and constructed in the fiscal year 2020/21 BS for Rs. 48.24 million. Before the project came into operation, residents used to carry water from wells and springs for their daily needs. Although the lift system initially resolved the drinking water problem, long-term operation and management have become increasingly challenging.
According to Ward Chair Jyotiraj Kunwar of Isma Rural Municipality–3, a new transformer is being arranged, and repair work is underway with the support of the Drinking Water Office and the Nepal Electricity Authority. He stated that since there is no road access up to the project’s source, locals have to carry the transformer and pump equipment manually. “Around 50–60 local users carried the transformer over three days,” Kunwar said.
The drinking water project has no separate source of income for operation. Users are charged Rs. 250 per month for up to seven units and Rs. 40 per unit thereafter. The committee’s monthly expenses, including electricity bills and staff management, amount to around Rs. 50,000–60,000, of which approximately Rs. 30,000 goes to electricity charges alone.
According to committee chair Lok Bahadur Mahat of the Dhānd–Darlamchaur Lift Drinking Water Project, repeated breakdowns of transformers and pumps are pushing the project beyond the committee’s capacity to manage.
Lift drinking water projects began operating in Gulmi around 2014. The district’s first lift project is considered to be the Tamghas Large Drinking Water Project. According to the District Drinking Water and Sanitation Office, there are currently around 150 lift drinking water projects operating across the district.
According to Sub-Engineer Gaurav Bhandaari of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Office, Gulmi, around 10 to 15 of these projects are in weak financial and managerial condition.
“Due to lightning and electricity-related problems, pumps and transformers are frequently damaged. Since repair or replacement requires a large amount of money, it has become difficult for rural committees to operate the projects,” Bhandaari said.
He added that in urban areas, water tariffs are collected in higher amounts, making project operation easier, whereas in rural areas, many committees struggle even to cover staff expenses due to insufficient revenue collection.