Parched People
The cover story “Empty Taps” (SPOTLIGHT March 30) raised a burning issue faced by the people of Kathmandu valley. Lack of drinking water has been haunting the people of the valley for last many years. But, still no solution seems to be in sight. In fact, the absence of water will lead to stagnation of this metropolis because no one would like to come, live or invest in a place where there is not enough water.
Jitendra Basyal
Ghattekula
Water Woes
Thousands of people of the capital city are forced to wake overnight just to wait for taps to come alive (“Empty Taps” SPOTLIGHT March 30). Drinking water has become one of the scarcest commodities. But the people have no hope. Leaders are busy on political issues. Basis necessities and socio-economic problems have become nobody’s concern. As such, people have no alternative but to continue facing all the difficulties they are suffering from now – just for those few precious drops of water.
Jeeban Lama
Chabahil
Where Is Melamchi?
Every dry season people remember the dream of Melamchi (“Empty Taps” SPOTLIGHT March 30). But that dream seems to have turned into nightmare since the much-touted project is still as distant as it was in the past. If the project was never to be completed, why did the leaders gave that promise to the people? Even after restoration of Loktantra, parties have not come together to resolve problems faced by essential projects like Melamchi. It is also the duty of donors to warn the authorities if the latter do not show attention or commitment to implementing such multi-million dollar projects.
Krishan Joshi
Bhainsepati
Alternative Path
At a time when drinking water has not become a topic that warrants any concern from our leaders (“Empty Taps” SPOTLIGHT March 30), the people have no option but to take recourse to alternative path. As mentioned in the article, rain water harvesting can be a feasible alternative. But this system has to be made practical for all households to use. It should also not be expensive to install. At present, people have little or no knowledge about this concept. The NGOs have the duty to spread the words.
Lalit Bista
Kaushaltar
Give Priority
As the cover story (“Empty Taps” SPOTLIGHT March 30) suggested, there is a need to give priority to the issue of increasing the access to water and sanitation not only in city areas but also in remote regions. It is one of the targets of UN Millennium Development Goals also. But it is not enough to just increase the access to water; there is a need to increase the access to safe drinking water. This can lead to sharp reduction in water-borne disease – which have huge socio-economic costs for the country.
Durgesh KC
Satdobato
On Loktantra
The article “Stable Democracy or Volatile Dictatorship?” (SPOTLIGHT March 30) has brought to the fore very serious issues facing Nepali nationhood. Despite its weaknesses, democracy is the best option for Nepal. Only in democracy can grievances of all the communities and regions be adequately and appropriately addressed. And democracy has inbuilt mechanisms to correct mistakes. It might be a noisy and messy system, but it is a good and self-correcting system. As Winston Churchill once said, democracy may be the worst form of governance but best among those ever practiced. Nepali people realize the importance of democracy more than anyone else. They have fought three revolutions and countless struggles in the last six decades for the sake of democracy. So it is wrong if anyone thinks that democracy is volatile and dictatorship is stable for the country.
Diwakar Shrestha
Patan
Consolidate Democracy
Apropos the article “Stable Democracy or Volatile Dictatorship?” (SPOTLIGHT March 30), it is important for the political leaders and the people to work together to consolidate democracy in the country. After 1990, corruption emerged as the single-most dangerous factor, which derailed the functioning democracy. After 2006 change, the issue of security and stability is now similarly hurting the prospects for democracy. Therefore, all the people of Nepal including Madhesis, Janjatis, Dalits, women and anyone else with grievances must try to make their struggle peaceful and orderly so as not to disrupt the consolidation of democracy. Because through its consolidation only their demands can be met.
Bikas Basnet
Maharajgunj
