Until we reach the Maitighar Mandala carrying empty utensils, until the state declares an area a 'drought-affected area', or until the chapakalas and borings start drying up, there is little concern and thought about water in Nepali society. 

When the drought begins in Chait-Baishakh, then along with the drought, the excessive use of borings for irrigation increases. Then the boring water also starts drying up. And finally the lamp of our consciousness starts to light. Only then do we know about the importance of water. 

But, ironically, as soon as the rainy season starts, we forget everything again. There is no serious debate about saving water. Efforts to find ways to conserve water to deal with drought and drought are nowhere to be seen. 

While discussing the problem of water, one incident may be relevant. A year ago, after the shortage of drinking water in Madhesh worsened, people from the Terai to Maitighar carried empty buckets and pots to plead with the state. The movement, led by the 'Madhesh Agriculture-Water Movement' and the 'Chure Conservation Campaign', involved a 25-day walk from Saptari to Maitighar in Kathmandu. Even then, the movement continued for two to three months in Kathmandu.

Since the share of water in this most densely populated area of ​​the country is limited, it is difficult to meet everyone's needs. The government ended the movement by tricking and making promises. However, the achievement was zero. Temporary measures such as sending fire engines or tankers to the drought-stricken areas were adopted, but no concrete steps were taken to solve the problem. The Maitighar movement ended, and the government also forgot about the work. As a result, last year, the Terai experienced an even bigger drought. Outgoing Prime Minister KP Oli reached the Terai by helicopter. He looked down at the Terai from the helicopter and returned with the promise of digging thousands of borings and distributing water cannons. However, the problem is still there. There is a situation where we should be sure that the crisis will repeat in the coming Chaitra-Baishakh. 

Our country is said to be rich in water. But why does drought repeat every year? Why does a country rich in water have to face this plight every year? There does not seem to be any research on that. 

First, let's look at the natural aspect. Only about 13 percent of the water flowing in Nepal is available in the Terai region. Since the share of water in this most densely populated area of ​​the country is limited, it is difficult to meet everyone's needs.

According to experts, another important problem is groundwater recharge. Farming carried out against nature in the name of industrial farming has hardened the soil of the Terai. Due to this, the land's ability to absorb water falling from the sky is decreasing. The more water the land can absorb, the more the groundwater level increases. However, water does not remain in the hardened soil, but rather flows away and mixes with the sea or other water sources. As a result, groundwater recharge has not been as expected.

According to a 2020 World Bank study, about 1,500 million cubic meters of groundwater is recharged in the Terai every year, but exploitation reaches 2,000 million cubic meters. That is, more water is extracted than the amount of water added underground. This has created a major imbalance in the groundwater level.

According to data released by ICIMOD in 2022, about 40 percent of the natural ponds and creeks in the Terai have dried up due to urbanization. As a result, the groundwater recharge rate has decreased by about 25 percent. These figures indicate that there will be a more serious water crisis in the future, which we have been experiencing every year.

Public behavior

The mentality that water is never enough or that it is a free resource is deeply embedded in our society. This is why groundwater is being overused through boring, submersible pumps or pumps. Even after the drought is over, the idea of ​​conserving water is not seen in the behavior of the common people. We have become accustomed to turning on the water by pressing the switch of the motor even for small tasks. The condition of public taps is even more pathetic. The water keeps flowing, but no one considers it necessary to turn it off.

Water is also used excessively in activities like festivals, fairs, pujas or planting. Limited resources are used excessively in the name of cultural needs. We easily forget that this harms ourselves later. 

Not only in the Terai, but also in the hilly areas, incidents of entire settlements being displaced due to water shortage are increasing. Due to exploitation of the Chure region, climate crisis, deforestation and unplanned development, the water sources in the hills are drying up. Incidents of springs drying up due to road digging everywhere have become common. 

Water is also used excessively in activities like festivals, fairs, pujas or planting. Limited resources are used excessively in the name of cultural needs. We easily forget that this will harm ourselves later.  The Chure region is the watershed of the entire Terai. However, there are debates about whether to exempt or encourage exploitation from the state level in this region. On the other hand, climate change is also gradually drying up natural water sources. Therefore, this crisis is unlikely to be resolved immediately. 

The government talks about groundwater conservation, irrigation system development and natural resource management, but in practice most of the plans are limited to paper.

Many plans implemented in the name of groundwater conservation seem to focus on providing facilities rather than conservation. For example, Bharatpur Metropolitan City in Chitwan had recently come up with a controversial plan called ‘One House, One Boring’. It was widely opposed by the public, but like Bharatpur, other municipalities have also continued their boring distribution programs. 

These plans make it easier to draw water for a short time, but do not pay attention to long-term aspects such as groundwater recharge, balancing the water cycle or public awareness. As a result, people are increasingly thinking of groundwater as a free and unlimited resource.

Water flows from public taps, but no one turns it off. Leaky pipes go unfixed for months. People shrug it off, saying that all these tasks are the responsibility of the state. Government schemes help in installing boreholes in villages, but they have not been able to spread awareness about sustainable water management. 

This recurring water crisis exposes a deep weakness in our society, that we are not aware until we face a problem. 

Even when danger is visible, we do not speak up, do not prepare, and delay taking necessary steps. We know that water sources are drying up, but our silence will not be broken until the taps and taps dry up, until people take to the streets carrying empty pots.