Nepal faces drinking water and electricity problem

Nepal being the second richest country in fresh water resource after Brazil is currently facing a situation of load shedding and drinking water problem in its capital and other regions. Looking at the demands of electricity, electrical accessories like emergency lights (rechargeable lights), Inverters and solar panel are getting more popular in normal people's lives where as for drinking water people are bound to use the ground water. The best option emerging for electricity is the Chinese solar panels which are very much catching people's eyes where they cost around NRs 5500 ($70) which comes with a 12V battery and lights three led lights for around 6 hrs. Similarly, from the drinking water perspective, the condition is worsening where people are fighting against each other for the supply and demand of drinking water. Moreover, recently on December 1, 2008, Locals from the outskirts of Dhulikhel wrecked the main water supply pipe line of the of Dhulikhel Drinking Water Consumers' Committee cutting off the water supply at Kavre district headquarters, blaming the consumers committee of not supplying water to them despite their repeated appeals. The agitated locals then sabotaged the pipelines at Chaukot and Dhalmaley. The people celebrated the event with music and dancing where the official remains silent about the issue. The main problem of the area was Dhulikhel is a popular tourist destination and is at a height. Build by the grant of German government; the 15 years ago, the drinking water project has been supplying water largely to the urban residents sidelining some of the areas of the district where the deprived locals had been demanding uniformity in the water supply since long. Creating a swarm, equipped with sledgehammers and excavation tools, the angry locals destroyed the pipe line where the water supply had completely halted in the whole region. After the reinstate of republican in the country and Maoist joining the mainstream politics, people expected dynamic reforms within the society and government's management but now after around a year, people are still waiting for the deeds that they were promise during the election time. Though, it sounds funny and sarcastic about Nepal being so rich in water resource but not able to channelize its resource to address its needs, is a question where small country like Bhutan has already proven its existence of the economical standing just by capitalizing its hydro power. Perhaps, the government had addressed the issue of maximum utilization of water resources with high crafted words in its fiscal year budget 2065 B.S but in reality the absence of the commitment seems more proactive than written words. Like wise, in the month of September 2008, the people faced 35 hrs of load shedding in a week where as from the beginning of December the numbers have soared up to 45 hrs blaming it to the low level of water in the power station. On contrary contemplating the situation, the aggravation of people are rising as for normal public the load shedding is there but for high official areas of the country like presidential quarters and Minister's quarters areas are spared showing government commitment towards bureaucracy and power play. The general public are bound to face the problem but if u are lucky enough to stay near the president or vice president residence or minister's quarter then you would surely be spared coz we have just been turn republican but our leaders are busy pointing finger at each other rather than solving the crisis.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi