There has been a severe shortage of drinking water in Syaule Basti of Amargadhi Municipality-1 for the past three weeks, causing hardship for the locals. As the water supplied from the source located 14 kilometers away has proven insufficient, residents have been forced to wait in line for hours at the Shikhar spring to fetch drinking water. The regular water supply to around 775 households in Syaule Basti and nearby areas has been disrupted due to a break in the GI pipeline. Although three weeks have passed since the pipe broke, repairs have yet to be carried out. Most residents of Wards 1 and 2 of Amargadhi Municipality rely on water from this source. Locals have been using the ‘Shikhar Dhara’ near Syaule Bazaar as an alternative water source. Resident Chandra Doyal expressed frustration, stating that they are forced to wait in line for hours just to collect a single container of water.
Ward Chairperson of Amargadhi Municipality–1, Lok Bahadur Air, stated that due to the distance of the water source, it has been difficult to address the technical problem immediately. A technical team along with a generator has been deployed to repair the broken GI pipe, and the problem is expected to be resolved within a day or two. It has been reported that the water source tends to dry up during the winter, while landslides in the monsoon often wash away the pipeline. Consumers frequently face difficulties due to recurring issues in the pipeline system.
The water shortage has also had a negative impact on schools, health posts, and hotel businesses. Along with the scarcity of water in the settlement, problems related to sanitation have increased, raising concerns about health risks.