Banepa, June 23: People in Mechhe, Narayansthan, Phuruwabas, Chapakhori and adjoining areas of Kavrepalanchowk district have to depend on the monsoon rains for meeting their water needs.

It is said that 39 per cent of the local population depends on the traditional sources of water like wells, water spouts, natural springs and streams to meet their daily water needs. But the tragedy is that these traditional water sources are also fast drying up due to various reasons.

However, chief of the district water supply office, Rishi Bahadur Adhikari says that piped drinking water will be available to 61 per cent population in the district by the beginning of the fiscal year 2000/2001.

Piped water will be available to 78 per cent of the population in the district by the end of the tenth five year plan period at the total cost of Rs 120 million, according to the district water supply office.

The district water supply office also plans to harvest rain water to meet the shortage during the dry periods.

Meanwhile, the district-wide clean-up programme launched in association with the UNICEF-Nepal has concluded in the district. According to a statistics made available at a programme to mark the sanitation week, it was informed that about Rs 10 billion was spent in clean up programmes in Nepal.