KATHMANDU: Amid worsening drought conditions in Nepal’s Madhesh Province, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has directed Chief District Officers (CDOs) to identify alternative water sources and ensure their scientific distribution.
Speaking at a coordination meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday, Minister Lekhak emphasized the urgent need for swift and coordinated action following the federal government’s declaration of the province as a disaster-affected zone.
“Just yesterday, the Prime Minister announced that borewell drilling would begin,” Lekhak said. “Now, we must identify exactly where this is needed. We have to prioritize based on necessity and immediately start the installation of borewells and tube wells through fast-track procedures.”
Lekhak instructed CDOs to facilitate coordination and oversee the implementation of urgent water access projects, including the installation of hand pumps, borewells, shallow tube wells, and drip irrigation systems.
Acknowledging that even existing sources like hand pumps and tube wells are drying up in some areas, he noted that local administrations now hold special authority under the disaster declaration and urged them to exercise it to address the crisis quickly.
The Madhesh region, known as Nepal’s rice bowl, has suffered from prolonged dry spells this year, with paddy transplantation stalled and drinking water increasingly scarce. The federal government recently declared the entire province a disaster zone for a three-month period.
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