Ganga Chauhan of Satyawati in ward 4 of Tinau Rural Municipality says she dreads the end of each winter. As the dry season sets in, the village’s drinking water sources begin to dry up.

She wakes at 3am to fetch water from nearby streams.

“If we don’t go early, we fear we won’t get water from the well,” she said. “It is not enough even for people to drink. We also have to feed cattle, which makes it harder.”

The problem extends beyond Satyawati. Settlements including Daha, Chhap, Thapandanda, Bauridanda and Lagad in ward 4 face similar shortages. More than 300 families in Satyawati alone have struggled with water scarcity for years.

It has been seven years since federal, provincial and local governments launched the “one house, one tap” campaign during the 2017 elections. Residents say the promise has yet to materialise in their area.

With elections scheduled for March 5, candidates have again started visiting the village, pledging to ensure drinking water in exchange for votes. Former ward chair Dan Bahadur Gaha said water has remained a recurring election issue but has never been resolved.

“There is no concrete plan from the ward or the municipality,” he said. “Some small federal and provincial projects were implemented, but they have deteriorated. Even the projects that have started are yet to be completed.”

Umesh Kanauje Magar of ward 4 said every election brings similar assurances.

“Before elections, every candidate says they will bring drinking water,” he said. “After winning, they don’t return. The problem remains the same. Projects are left incomplete, and no one shows concern.”

Water supply from taps has started declining. While residents get some relief during the monsoon, shortages persist for the rest of the year. Yamanti Darlami Magar said the situation becomes severe in summer.

“In summer, we have to search for water throughout the night,” she said. “No matter which party wins, our problem remains unchanged.”

Villagers continue to carry water containers in bamboo baskets. Waking before dawn has left many sleep-deprived, and the shortage has affected sanitation and income-generating activities. During construction work, locals must carry water themselves. In peak summer, some return empty-handed after failing to find water in streams and wells.

The issue dates back decades. After the 1990 political change, parliamentary elections were held in 1991 in the then constituency 2. The late Gambhir Jung Karki of the Nepali Congress was elected. Som Prasad Pandey won in 1994, 1999, 2013 and 2017 from the UML ticket. In 2008, Leela Somai of the then Maoists was elected.

Provincial and local elections have since been held twice. Tularam Gharti of the then Maoists was elected to the provincial assembly twice and is now Speaker of the Lumbini Provincial Assembly. In the first local elections in 2017, Om Bahadur Gharti of the UML won, and in 2022 Prem Shrestha of the same party was elected.

“Everyone has verbally promised to bring drinking water to this village,” said Tek Bahadur Sunari. “But no one has fulfilled that promise.”

To address the crisis, the Diyangkhola (Satyawati) lift drinking water project began in 2021, said Sunari, who also served as its former secretary. So far, only one tank has been built, and the project remains incomplete due to a lack of funds. He said no authority has shown sustained interest in ensuring continuity.

Ward chair Tul Bahadur Ale said projects such as Satyawati, Nafkhola and Dhapandanda have been initiated through the Water Supply and Sanitation Office in Palpa. Tanks built in places including Gijanchaur, Luguwaghat and Thapandanda have deteriorated.

A committee led by Lal Bahadur Darlami has recently been formed to operate the Satyawati drinking water project. Ale said projects are often started with limited budgets and left incomplete.

“The ward has supported some repairs, but a lack of interest from consumers has also prolonged the problem,” he said.

He added that there are no new plans from the ward or the rural municipality, although funds are allocated annually for repairs. In other parts of Palpa district, multiple drinking water schemes operate based on political access, but in Satyawati, even old schemes function poorly.

Guna Nidhi Pokharel, chief of the Water Supply and Sanitation Office in Palpa under Lumbini Province, said limited budgets have delayed completion of some projects. Under Tinau-4, projects at Nafkhola, Dhapandanda and Satyawati Lift (Diyangkhola) have allocations of Rs500,000 each, he said.

For now, residents say they will support candidates who can guarantee a reliable water supply. Until then, their days will continue to begin before dawn.