Manthali is facing a shortage of drinking water due to the decreased water level in the Tamakoshi River. As the river level decreased, the wells used to lift water stopped receiving sufficient supply, disrupting the drinking water distribution to Manthali Bazaar, the district headquarters.
Residents are facing difficulties as the flow of water from taps has reduced during the summer. Sunita Shrestha of Manthali-1 expressed that even a single tap no longer provides 500 liters of water daily at a time when more water is needed for bathing and washing clothes. She added that it has become challenging to share the limited water among family members and tenants, forcing people to search for alternative water sources in the intense heat.
The Manthali Drinking Water Consumers’ Committee Chairperson Purna Bahadur Subedi mentioned that reduced water flow has made it difficult to collect enough water, causing irregular supply.
Water from the Tamakoshi River is collected in wells along the riverbank, then lifted and stored in tanks on the hill before being distributed to over 1,000 taps across Manthali. The committee warned that this issue might persist throughout June due to the low water levels. The shortage is not limited to Manthali but affects all areas where water levels in the Tamakoshi and other nearby rivers and streams have declined.