Soyak settlement in Ilam Municipality-11, with the help of the federal government, has completed the construction of a drinking water project. The project will be supplying drinking water to each household of the settlement.

Three water tanks with the capacity of storing 160,000 litres of water have been constructed for the project that will lift underground water and water from a spring through deep boring.

“I used to carry water from a distance every day before the project was completed. The villagers faced hardships due to water shortage in the settlement of around 100 houses,” said Tika Parajuli, a 60-year-old resident of Soyak. “We are very happy with the construction of a drinking water project in the village now.”

The entire Soyak settlement, which had been severely hit by water shortage for years, is relieved with the construction of the drinking water project.

“I never thought that my hardships would go away like this. I used to walk for an hour to fetch a jar of water, leaving my kids at home. Now, we get water supplied to our house,” said Mina Rana Magar, a 35-year-old local resident.

According to the ward office, the water crisis in the settlement had forced many families to migrate to Jhapa and other places. Ten years ago, Narendra Acharya from Soyak had shifted to a downhill settlement some eight kilometers away due to the acute water shortage.

“As the settlement no longer faces a water crisis, I have decided to return to my ancestral village now,” said Acharya.

Chairman of Ilam Municipality Ward No. 11 Rabindra Ekten said, “After continuous efforts over the years, we have finally gotten rid of the long-standing problem.” He is hopeful that the drinking water project would keep in check the outward migration and help in the overall development of the settlement.

The much-awaited drinking water project was completed at the cost of Rs 24.7 million. Mayor Mahesh Basnet inaugurated the project amid a function on Friday.

“Now that we have addressed the drinking water crisis, the municipality will focus on other development activities. The problem of out-migration caused by water shortage will also be controlled,” said Basnet.

Around 100 households have benefited with the completion of the project. A local school, a health post and a ward office in the settlement are also getting water through the project.

According to Dipak Guragain, an engineer at the municipality, the drinking water project would be sustainable.

“We have managed an alternative way of supplying water to the settlement in case the deep boring dries up,” said Guragain.