Lawmakers urge action to resolve drinking water crisis in Dharan
The call was made during today’s meeting of the Infrastructure Development Committee of the House.
KATHMANDU: Members of the House of Representatives have stressed the need for urgent intervention to address the ongoing drinking water crisis faced by residents of Dharan, Sunsari.
The call was made during today’s meeting of the Infrastructure Development Committee of the House.
The discussion was based on a complaint submitted on Jan 1 by the Sunsari Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighting severe issues related to the drinking water supply in Dharan.
The complaint outlined various concerns, including disputes over water access, scarcity of drinking water, and the presence of abundant underground water in forest areas that remains untapped by local residents and industries.
The Chamber also noted that the Dharan Drinking Water Management Board has been formed but emphasized the need for effective monitoring by the parliamentary committee to ensure tangible improvements.
During the meeting, lawmakers recommended inviting representatives from the Ministry of Water Supply, the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, consumer committees, and other stakeholders for detailed discussions aimed at resolving the issue.
In a related matter, the Makwanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry submitted a separate complaint on May 8, regarding long-standing land ownership issues faced by permanent residents along sections of the East-West Highway in Hetauda—from Ratomate to Chaukotol and from Buddha Chowk to Rapti Bridge. Despite living there for generations and holding land ownership certificates, residents face problems due to road expansion and land acquisition.
Lawmakers called for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, the Department of Roads, and relevant authorities to be summoned for discussions to resolve these issues.
Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Deputy General Secretary of the CPN (Maoist Centre) and a Member of Parliament, stressed the need for coordinated discussions with concerned agencies to resolve Dharan’s water crisis. Similarly, Prakash Jwala of the CPN (Unified Socialist) highlighted the importance of conducting an in-depth study before taking further action on the matter.
The committee also endorsed its Annual Report 2081 (2024/25) with amendments during today’s session.
