Tanahu – Bhadrudanda, located about three kilometers east of the district headquarters, Dumre, in Vyas Municipality-1, is a small human settlement surrounded by dense forest on all sides. This area is home to 10 Dalit families who have no opportunities for cultivation or employment. These families survive by working as daily wage laborers. Along with the general problems they face, the most severe issue they confront is the extreme shortage of drinking water.

Local resident Hasta Bahadur Nepali shared, “We have been fetching water from a stream near the settlement. We have to carry water uphill for about 15-20 minutes every day. This has been the case since the settlement was established.” He also mentioned that during the months of Chaitra and Baisakh, even that water source dries up, causing even more difficulty. “The water source dries up during Chaitra and Baisakh, which makes things even harder,” he said. “Since we have to travel through the jungle to fetch water, there is also the fear of encountering wild animals.”

To address this issue, a plan to expand the drinking water supply in the area is now underway. Under the Madinadi Lift Drinking Water Project, a collaboration between the Vyas-1 Bhadgaon Drinking Water and Consumer Organization and the federal government, the water supply will be extended to the settlement. After 51 years of settlement, the villagers are happy that the project has been initiated to bring drinking water to every household in Bhadrudanda.

A 50,000-liter capacity reserve tank is under construction, with the base foundation of the tank already completed and other works in progress. Earlier, a 200,000-liter capacity reserve tank was constructed in Amili Bhanjyang, Vyas-1, as part of the same project. The project is being funded with 70% from the government and 30% from the Bhadgaon Drinking Water Organization, as informed by the project manager, Iswor Shrestha.

“The Madinadi Lift Project has been initiated to address the water shortage caused by the expansion of settlements,” said Shrestha. “Once the project is completed, it is expected to ease the water supply issues for the residents.” According to Shrestha, a contract worth NPR 19 million was signed with Parajuli Construction in September 2022 to begin the project.

Although the contract specified completion by September 2023, the project has been delayed. However, the chairman of the organization, Chij Bahadur Dara, mentioned that with recent facilitation, the construction work has gained momentum and is expected to be completed soon.

The organization, which was established in 1999, began distributing water from 52 public taps. Currently, it distributes water through 2,680 private connections, with both small and large-scale plans in place.