Residents of Terai/Madhesh have faced extreme water crisis this year as rivers, wells, wells and chapakals have dried up due to drought. Mainly the problem of drinking water has to be affected. Due to drying up of traditional sources, the state government had to distribute water to the slums from fire engines and tankers to avoid the water crisis.

Daily life of common people has been disturbed due to having to be busy with water/drinking water management. In Madhesh province, where 80.6 percent planting was done till July 6 last year, this time only half of the planting has been done. This year till July 4, only 46.83 percent of the crop has been sown, indicating that most of the arable land is barren.

Even in the fields of the planters, the grain has started to break due to lack of water. Although the crisis faced by the area, which is considered to be a food storage area, seems to be related only to the people there, after a few months, it is sure to affect the entire country.

Adversity can add up from people's food security to gross domestic product (GDP). Therefore, it is necessary for all three levels of government to implement alternative measures as much as possible to minimize the crisis. As the guardianship of the state is needed during times of crisis, it should be able to make its presence felt among the citizens.

Elderly citizens of the Terai region often feel that there was no shortage of water in wells or wells. Chapakal, which was buried only 10 feet, had easy access to water. Wells and wells gradually dried up over the last few decades. Chapakal also had to be driven to a depth of up to 100 feet.

Now that the water is drying up, most of the settlements in the Terai have to rely on the system of the Water Supply Corporation for water. The problem that started from May has increased since June. It is difficult to predict the crisis as only 12 percent of rain has fallen in Madhesh than Sardar till the first week of July and it is predicted that there will be less rain this year.

Also, rain can fall at any time, even the current crisis can turn. But the crisis that has arisen this year calls for serious initiatives. Because, the situation of water crisis seen in Terai region is not created only because of less rain or no rain.

Due to both local and global causes, the water level is rapidly moving downwards and the situation has come to a crisis. Relief from the current crisis should be the main effort, but the time has come to be serious about adopting a long-term strategy.

After the drought started at the time when planting should have been intensified, the cabinet meeting of Madhesh province held on June 26 has declared the province as a drought-affected area. Also, it has requested the federal government to announce a relief package for the farmers of the province.

is also expected to support donor agencies. Water has also been distributed by fire engines and tankers in the slums that are facing shortage of drinking water in that province. At this time, it is necessary to do things like making the system of the drinking water company agile and monitoring the quality and price of the jars available in the market. Helping organizations should also be encouraged to distribute water. At least to prevent shortage of drinking water, activeness should be shown and coordination should be increased.

The federal government also needs to take special initiatives. His role is sought after because he can easily manage resources including the budget. The federal government should listen to the Madhesh state government itself asking for a relief package for the farmers. It is a regular responsibility of the government to help citizens in distress.

On the other hand, government support is necessary in the agricultural sector as it contributes the most to GDP. The government, which has brought a relief package to protect the private sector in the event of an epidemic like Covid-19, should be able to address the impact of the crisis that farmers are currently experiencing. The government cannot remain indifferent to the crisis faced by farmers in the food storage area of the country where 60 percent of the population is dependent on agriculture.

In the budget statement for the fiscal year 2082/83 presented on May 15, the goal is to become self-sufficient in rice within two years. This goal is achieved when maximum area of planting is possible. It is necessary for the government to be serious in order to achieve its own goals. Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Ramnath Adhikari has said that irrigation will also be arranged by transferring funds from the ministry's budget. Its implementation is awaited.

There is a possibility of increasing the availability of water even if the canals used for irrigation can be cleaned in some places. Due to lack of regular cleaning of the Gandak canal used for irrigation in Bara and Parsa, Nepal has not been able to get enough water. This should also be considered. At the same time, if irrigation can be done by drawing underground water, that should also be adopted. If rice cannot be planted, the government can also study and recommend the possibility and procedure of planting other crops.

Adapting to climatic adversities immediately is beyond the control of any government. Therefore, the problem will not be completely solved by other efforts except natural water. However, we also need to work on a long-term strategy. Because, the current water crisis in the Terai region is also the result of mistakes made by people for decades.

In the past few decades, everyone has experienced the rapid exploitation of forests, the destruction of forests, the extreme mining of all kinds of rivers, and the increasing unplanned urbanization. The negative impact of the exploitation of those in power and power is felt by the unreached citizens. Therefore, we should collectively be responsible for the mistakes made in the past and move forward by correcting them. This is what we must and can do. Individual efforts alone are not enough for this.

State's strict policy and surveillance and citizen's support is necessary. Along with this, the government should also implement artificial water recharge schemes. If the ground-water reserves could be enriched, the current crisis would not have occurred.