KHANDBARI: A total of 400 households in Wards 1 and 2 of Sabhapokhari Rural Municipality in Sankhuwasabha now have access to drinking water under the “One House, One Tap” initiative.
The project, implemented by the rural municipality with support from donor agencies, has so far connected 400 out of 728 households with household water taps.
Previously, locals had to rely on wells and natural sources for water, often spending hours each day collecting it. Manju Sharma of Dhupu shared that she used to spend two hours daily fetching water, but now she can access clean water directly at home.
Similarly, another resident, Kedar Adhikari, recalled walking for three hours just to collect a jug of water. “Now, water is available at home both in the morning and evening. This project has truly changed the lifestyle of our village,” he said.
Three water tanks have been constructed at sources in Dhupu, and water is distributed through a piped network. A user fee of Rs. 50 per month has been introduced to cover operation and maintenance costs.
In addition to households, the project has also installed taps and tanks in six schools, promoting better hygiene among students. According to local resident Sunita Rai, the project has reduced the workload on women and improved school attendance. “Children who used to miss school due to water shortages now arrive on time,” she said.
To ensure sustainability, local youths have received technical training in pump installation and pipe maintenance. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 38.2 million. Preparations are currently underway to expand the project to other wards in the municipality.
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