Around 251,000 people living in 35 VDCs and two municipalities of Salyan district have been facing water shortages for several years. As many supply systems in the district have fallen into disrepair, people are struggling to find potable water.

Many locals are compelled to buy water from tankers whereas some are using river water for household purposes. Chief of the Drinking Water Sub-division Office, Dharmadev Kumal said around 800 of the 1,500 water supply schemes are dysfunctional.

“Up to 32 percent people are deprived of clean drinking water,” said Kumal, adding that the schemes had not been repaired due to the lack of funds.

District Chairman of the Federation of Drinking Water and Sanitation Users Keshav Budhathoki said many sources of water had dried up due to drought. “Many old projects have not been repaired. In new schemes, there is no water to distribute,” said Budhathoki.