BAGLUNG: A decade-old drinking water project remains incomplete in Dagatundanda of Badigad Rural Municipality, Baglung, leaving 380 households grappling with a severe water shortage.
The ‘One House, One Tap’ scheme was launched ten years ago to address the deteriorating condition of a 1991 water supply system that had once served over 700 households. However, the new project, initiated in 2015 to provide clean water to an additional 380 homes, has yet to be finished—leaving the community frustrated and desperate.
Due to the persistent lack of drinking water, many residents of Dagatundanda have begun migrating to other areas, local leaders say.
According to Prem Lal Sapkota, a former chief of the local council, the water crisis has become so acute that relocation is now the only option for many families. “People are being forced to leave because the most basic necessity—drinking water—is unavailable,” he said.
Despite efforts by the Water Supply and Sanitation Division Office to complete the project, progress has stalled due to consistent budget constraints, residents report.
With no reliable water source and no clear timeline for completion of the project, the future of Dagatundanda’s remaining residents remains uncertain.
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