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| Kathmandu Friday April 12, 2002 Chaitra 30, 2058. |
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We need Melamchi
This refers to the letter by Kaji Shakya of
Itumbahal, published in your Letters Column. It was interesting to read the ideas of
Shakya, and of course, I honour his rights to have an independent opinion. But when Mr
Shakya, in the smug tone of self-proclaimed spokesperson of Kathmandu residents, proclaims
that no Kathmanduties want Melamchi, I completely disagree.
Does he realise how painful it is for women,
when we have to wake up every other day at two in the morning to fill some buckets, or
when working housewives like me have to even bunk our offices-simply to fill extra water
pots for the next day? Has Mr Shakya, ever bought water from private water tanker
services? And does he know how much it costs? Has he ever calculated the cost of my lost
office days, humiliation we face just because of water, or school days lost by my children
after falling ill due to bad water or the cost of expensive kerosene I am burning to boil
the little water I have. Although I cannot say about others, I am sure I am ready to buy
slightly expensive water from Melamchi. That is if I do not need to bear this stress,
spend for medical services, call a tanker service, construct under ground tanks, buy
expensive plastic water tank for my roof, energy consumed by electric motors used for
pumping water etc.
Melamchi is not to be tossed aside. But as
Shakya said, we should not let corruption creep into the water project. A monitoring
agency needs to keep the project on the right track.
Anuja Manadhar
Kalimati |
