Consumers in Distress as Water Supply Disrupted by Floods Remains Obstructed

  October 18, 2024 By: INSEC

Consumers are facing significant distress as the water supply remains disrupted due to floods and landslides that occurred after the rainfall from 26 September to 28 September. The heavy flood swept away pipelines and water sources, and the situation has yet to be improved. Locals have reported that the ongoing water shortages have severely impacted their daily lives. Additionally, the water shortage is not only in areas outside the Ring Road, where Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Limited (KUKL) supplies water, but also across all local levels in the district.

Consumers in Godawari Municipality–10 and 11, Chapagaun, as well as in Ward No. 12 Thecho and Ward No. 13 Jharubari, are experiencing water supply issues from KUKL. Additionally, residents in Lalitpur Metropolitan City–23 and 24 Dhapakhel, and Ward No. 26 and 27 Sunakothi, have reported that they are also facing similar issues. The floods and landslides swept away the intake and pipelines of the water source in Nallu, Konjyosom Municipality-4, as well as the pipelines of the Basuki and Devaki sources in Godawari Municipality-6 Tikabhairab Khola, leading to water supply issues. This was reported by Ila Bhatt, the Deputy Manager of Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Limited, Lalitpur.

The floods have damaged the water source supplying filtered water to two reservoirs, each with a capacity of 27,00,000 liters, in Bhainsepati, which receives water from Farping. This disruption has affected the daily water distribution system in areas outside the Ring Road, according to KUKL engineer Bibek Nepal.

The water is collected and filtered from the Charghare and Tahakhel reservoirs in Chhapagaun for distribution. However, the floods and landslides in the Tikabhairav area have washed away approximately 2 kilometers of iron and plastic pipelines, resulting in the inability to distribute around 30 million liters of water daily, according to technical data. After the floods and landslides washed away the pipelines, it became necessary to reconstruct them. Engineer Nepal mentioned that due to delays in completing the required procedures for the project, they are temporarily implementing pipeline operations. On 15 October, Minister for Water Supply Pradeep Yadav directed the KUKL technical team, along with District Coordination Committee Lalitpur Chief Rishidev Phuyal and Godawari Municipality Mayor Gajendra Maherjan, to conduct monitoring and inspections at the affected areas due to the continuous rainfall and floods. He emphasized the need to restore and resume water supply operations.

Minister Yadav published a notice on 16 October directing the advancement of tasks such as pipe procurement and intake construction to resume regular water distribution. Following this, Ila Bhatt, the Deputy Manager of KUKL in Lalitpur, reported that the technical team is already active in monitoring the work site, conducting inspections, and assessing technical costs.

Currently, KUKL has reported that they are collecting water from the Muldol Pump House in Chhapagaun, Lalitpur, and distributing it to some areas of Godawari Municipality-10, Chhapagaun. Residents have reported that damage to water sources and pipelines in the areas of Devi Chaur, Konjyosom, and Mahankal Municipality in the district has resulted in a lack of available drinking water. Likewise, the residents of Godawari Municipality-3 and 14 have reported damage to the water sources and pipelines they use. Deputy Mayor Muna Adhikari stated that they are making partial efforts to resolve the issue.

Ward Chairperson of Mahalaxmi Municipality-9, Jayakrishna Bagati reported that the pipeline bringing drinking water from the Chapakharka source in Mahalaxmi Municipality has been damaged due to landslides at Lamatar, and they are currently undertaking partial repairs.

 


Dipak Prasad Ghimire