Kathmandu. The construction of the Homtang-Pikhuwa Lift Drinking Water Project in Bhojpur district has been delayed due to low budget allocation every year. The project which was started with the objective of addressing the decades-old drinking water problem of the locals has not been completed due to lack of adequate budget.

Secretary of the Construction Users’ Committee, Rajendra Rai, said that although the construction work of the project was started from the fiscal year 2075÷76 BS, the work could not take pace due to lack of budget as per the expectation. According to him, although the project is big and technically complex, the construction has been delayed due to limited allocation of budget every year.

“This is a project of long-term importance”, Secretary Rai said, adding, “The budget allocated annually is very low compared to the total cost.” That’s why the construction period has been extended. The locals are still facing water scarcity. ”

So far, various structures have been constructed under the project. According to the Construction Users’ Committee, a main tank is yet to be constructed and the four kilometers long main pipeline is yet to be expanded. A total of Rs 55 lakh has been allocated for the project in the current fiscal year. According to the committee, this amount is not enough to complete the remaining work.

In order to solve the problem of drinking water of the locals in the long term, an arrangement has been made to bring water from Pikhuwa rivulet to the settlement using a lifting system in seven layers.

The cost of the project is also high as the lift system is required to supply water to the settlements located in geographically remote and high altitude. The completion of the project is expected to benefit some 1,469 households of ward no 1, 5 and 6 of Hatuwagadhi rural municipality. Locals of these wards are reeling under acute shortage of drinking water during the rainy season and dry season. Locals say that they still have to walk for hours to fetch water in some settlements.

As per the preliminary estimate, the total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 30.90 crore. Locals have drawn the attention of the bodies concerned that the construction work could not be completed on time due to lack of budget despite the cost of such a huge cost.

The local government and the users’ committee have been urging the federal and state governments to ensure the necessary budget and complete the project soon. Locals said that the timely completion of the project would not only solve the problem of drinking water but also have positive impact on health, sanitation and living standard of the locals.