Kavre, Annapurna Rural Municipality-3 – Devi Budhathoki, a resident of Kavre village, no longer has to endure the hassle of waiting for her turn to access drinking water from a shared tap. For years, most households in the village depended on a single water tap. However, the recent implementation of the “One House, One Tap” initiative has brought significant relief to 70 households, including Budhathoki’s, by eliminating the need to queue for water.
This achievement was made possible through financial assistance from the Gurkha Welfare Trust, which allocated a budget of NPR 6.4 million for the project. With local labor contributions valued at NPR 2.1 million, the project involved constructing water tanks, collecting and distributing pipelines, and installing individual taps in every house, as explained by Purna Bahadur Budhathoki, the secretary of the construction committee.
The village, which was previously overlooked in terms of development, now boasts household water connections and well-constructed pathways. The Beni-Jomsom road of the Kali Gandaki Corridor skirts the edge of Kavre village, making it more accessible. Paths have been constructed throughout the village, connecting it to surrounding areas.
Lalmaya Chochange, an 80-year-old local, expressed her delight over the new pathways: “Previously, we had to walk through narrow trails full of bushes, with the risk of slipping and falling. Now, we can walk easily without worrying about our feet getting stuck. Even the elderly can move around the village comfortably.”
Plans are also underway to construct a pathway from Kavre to the tourist spot of Baja Bajne Dhunga. The village of Kavre, part of Dana, a ward in Annapurna Rural Municipality-3, is home to popular tourist attractions like the Rupse Waterfall, Andhagalchi, and Baja Bajne Dhunga. The “One House, One Tap” and pathway construction initiatives are also being extended to other settlements within the ward.
Ward Chairman Ramesh Purja emphasized the focus on providing household water facilities and constructing pathways rather than expanding the road network, which has increased landslide risks. “We have halted the construction of new road tracks and are upgrading traditional trails to pathways, ensuring every house gets access to water,” he said.
In the fiscal year 2080/81, the ward office has constructed pathways from Chautara to Kot and Titar to Thada Tol, and a drainage pathway from Thati Tol to Shiva Temple. Assistant Sub-Engineer Mukesh Saishwal reported that last fiscal year, eight pathway construction projects resulted in 2.2 kilometers of concrete pathways, funded with NPR 5.2 million.
Federal Water Supply and Sewerage Management Project has completed the main pipeline and water tank construction from the Matichaur water source to the village. The distribution pipeline now extends the “One House, One Tap” facility to settlements like Dandagau, Rigm, Ghattedanda, and the ward office area.
This significant development marks a milestone for Kavre village, bringing much-needed amenities and improving the quality of life for its residents.
