Residents of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal have demonstrated against irregular supplies of water and electricity. They threaten to step up their protests if the government does not take effective action.

On 17 March, citizens and members of civil society organisations took to the streets demanding regular water and electricity supplies. They issued a 15-day ultimatum to the government to address their concerns. Addressing a mass gathering in Kathmandu's Durbar Square, Constituent Assembly member Nabindra Raj Joshi blamed government apathy for the shortages.

Earlier, on 8 March, women in Bhaktapur staged a sit-in at Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), which supplies water to the area. The sit-in was called by the Nepal Revolutionary Women Association Bhaktapur District Committee.

The lack of drinking water is due to a fall in water production with the onset of the dry season. Kathmandu Valley needs about 270 million litres of water daily but KUKL is supplying about 100 million litres of water daily. It has not rained in the Kathmandu Valley for the past six months.

Related news:

• Nepal, Kathmandu Valley: fifty percent leakage in ageing drinking water system, Source South Asia, 13 Feb 2009;
• Nepal, Kathmandu Valley: increases in water tariffs expected, Source South Asia, 15 Dec 2008

Source: Kathmandu Post / NGO Forum, 18 Mar 2009 ; Annapurna Post / NGO Forum, 09 Mar 2009

Tags: gender, south asia, water distribution