Several Palpa settlements reel under severe water shortage after pumps break down

The Lumbini provincial government built over 75 water lifting projects in Palpa’s 10 local units, but maintenance has been neglected.

For Maya Sunar of Yamgha Ratmata in ward 6 of Baganasakali Rural Municipality in Palpa district, fetching water has become a daily struggle. Despite her morning rush to send her children to school, securing water remains her top priority. "My morning is spent carrying water," she said while returning from the community tap. "I can't fetch more than four gagri (metal water pot). My back hurts from carrying them." According to her, it takes nearly an hour to fetch a single gagri of water.