Baglung Market Faces Water Woes as Lifting Project Remains Undelivered

Baglung. It has been eight years since the lifting project to solve the drinking water problem of Baglung market started. Although 96 percent of the project was completed last year, the construction company has not yet been able to hand it over to the municipal drinking water institution. Currently, locals cannot drink the murky water coming from the taps in Baglung market without purifying it. The contract for bringing water to the market by lifting it from Kathekhola was awarded in 2075 BS through the Department of Drinking Water and Sewerage. 'Kankai, Jayamata JV' had taken up the responsibility for Rs 30 crore 26 lakh, with completion targeted for 2077 BS. After failing to complete the work within the stipulated time, the cost has increased to Rs 34 crore 65 lakh. However, the construction company has not yet handed over the project. The Baglung Municipality Drinking Water and Consumer Organization Chairman Haribahadur GC said that the organization has been incurring a loss of Rs 80 lakh every year due to the project not being handed over to the drinking water institution. He stated that currently, the organization is distributing water to Baglung market daily only by adding bleaching powder. Chairman GC said, "The residents of Baglung market have been facing drinking water problems for years. Compared to before, we have been able to distribute water regularly, but we have not been able to distribute pure water yet. Due to the lifting project not being handed over, we are forced to send murky water to the consumers' taps." Chairman GC informed that five sedimentation tanks have been built in Kathekhola for this project, along with one 500,000-liter and two 200,000-liter RBT tanks. Two sloshing tanks have been built. This project is being constructed with 70 percent investment from the Nepal government and 30 percent from consumers. 25 percent of the 30 percent investment has also been secured as loan assistance from the Urban Development Fund. Even though this project is not completed, the consumer committee has been paying Rs 80 lakh annually in principal and interest. 4,100 taps have been installed in Baglung market from this project. Local Pitambar Acharya said that the residents of Baglung market have been consuming murky water for decades. He complained that the market residents have not been able to drink pure water due to the drinking water institution sometimes and the delay by the construction entrepreneur at other times. He stated that the water coming into the taps is not suitable for drinking or even for cleaning.