Palpalidanda folks spend nearly two hours daily to fetch water

Kathmandu – The residents of Palpalianda from Galyang in Syangja district spend nearly two hours daily to fetch potable water for themselves.
A majority of Palpaidanda residents are daily wagers. Their morning times are often spent in collecting drinking water. “We don’t have any choice but to walk far flung to fetch water whether it monsoon or winter,” said Chanisara Gaha, 48, a local resident. “We have been requesting the local municipality to manage water facility for us for so long but to little avail.”
Monsoon, however, brings some respite to them as the water sources are found a bit close by their settlement but winter often afflict them.
Kumari Gaha, 69, shared that they had been drinking the water brought from distant place since they shifted to Palpalidanda. She is worried that she might have to spend her remaining life carrying water from the source to her home. “We have been facing water shortage for a long time as there is none in their settlement who could speak for us,” she bemoaned.
The water lifted from Andhikhola has made it easier for Amar Thapa, 55, to feed his cattle- not his family- since the water is not potable for human. “There is only one tap for nine households that runs water supplied from Manke River. However, it is drinkable,” he said, adding that they long have been waiting for water from Kalleri River for regular supply.
Meanwhile, Tulsi Bharyang Drinking Water and Sanitation Project Chief Leelballav Aryal shared that they were preparing to distribute water to Palpalidanda residents. He assured that there would be running taps in each household under ‘One House, One Tap’ programme within a month.