A leakage in the water tank of Silichung Drinking Water Consumer’s Committee has resulted in a wastage of water at Kafle Ghengar in Bhojpur Municipality Ward No. 9. Around 1.5 litres of water per second is being wasted every day for the past two months, said Kamala Pokharel, a security guard of the Drinking Water Consumer’s Committee.

“Despite constant efforts to draw the consumer committee’s attention to the problem, none of the members of the committee has taken action to repair the tank,” said Samjhana Karki, a local.

The tank supplies water to around 1,385 households in Bhojpur bazaar, the district headquarters, and its immediate vicinity. Locals said there’s a shortage of water in the settlements of Taksar in Bhojpur Municipality Ward No 12, and the consumer committee has done nothing to prevent the leakage of water. “The amount of water being wasted can easily accommodate around 350 households,” said Pokharel.

According to the locals, representatives of the consumer committee are well aware of the leakage since almost everybody walks by the tank area daily.

“It’s already been two months now since the leakage began. The committee has done nothing to stop the leakage or clean the tank area,” Karki said.

Meanwhile, members of the consumer committee said they are unable to fix the leakage problem due to a lack of employees.

“We don’t have employees to repair the tank. We seek help from the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage during emergencies,” said Binam Shrestha, secretary of the committee.

After the devastating earthquake of 2015, many water sources have started drying up in the district. Villages like Jhulke, Dadhuwa, Tindhare and Jorsanghu live under constant water shortage.