Rama Thapa’s household is abuzz with excitement. The 70-year-old matriarch is excited about the installation of a water tap in her house in Sarangkot Pandeli, Pokhara.

“Although Sarangkot falls inside the metropolitan city, we never had a proper water supply facility. Now with the installation of water taps, the entire community is looking forward to easier times,” Rama said.

Water taps are being installed in every household in Pandeli under the Budhimul Drinking Water Lifting Project Water.

“Our days were spent fetching water from miles away. Now, we can utilise our time productively,” said Rama.

Binod Pangeni, a local, is happy that his plan to start a vegetable farm will finally come to fruition. “We will have smooth water supply now. I plan to start a small vegetable farm with plenty of water to irrigate my farm.”

According to Pokhara Ward No. 18 Office, more than 400 taps will be installed in the settlements within three months. Rana Bahadur Thapa, ward chairman, said three drinking water projects are under construction in Ward No 18 after the formation of the provincial government.

“In the past, there was a shortage of budget to carry out the construction work efficiently. But now, our ward has received sufficient budget to complete the drinking water projects,” Thapa said.

The provincial government has allocated Rs 18 million and Pokhara Metropolis has allocated Rs 2 million for Budhimul Drinking Water Lifting Project. Syade Drinking Water Project and Toripani Drinking Water Project have received Rs 10 million and Rs 20 million respectively. 

There are 2,500 households living at Pandeli, Khadkathar, Sundarpokhari and Simtal, among other settlements, in Sarangkot area.

According to Thapa, the metropolis has plans to install one tap each in every household in Sarangkot within the next two years.
Dil Bahadur GC, a local of Simtal Mulabari in Sarangkot, said that they had been struggling with water shortage for a long time.“The drinking water facility has also encouraged us to grow vegetables giving us a shot at self-employment,” he said. 

Ramji Baral, a provincial lawmaker, said that the provincial government is also looking at a long-term solution to the water shortage problem in the area. “We plan to put an end to the locals’ struggle for water,” he said.