May 11, Kathmandu- Due to dry season in Birgunj metropolitan area, severe shortage of drinking water has been observed after chapakal started drying up. Due to the lack of drinking water due to the dried chapakal buried in houses, there has been an increase in the number of people coming to the branch office of Nepal Water Supply Institute in Birgunj for the installation of new taps.

Now hundreds of people come to the office every day with requests for new water supply. Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, head of distribution of the water supply institute branch office, said that since last year most of the chapakals in the Birganj market area have dried up and people have started coming to connect the water supply lines.

"In the past, the locals did not show much interest in connecting the drinking water pipe until enough water came from the chapakal buried in the house. "Since last year's winter, chapakal has dried up and there is a water crisis, now water supply company is in need of water supply," he said

Distribution chief Yadav informed that more than 2,400 new pipes have been connected during the current financial year. "Until the end of last year, there were only 8,400 households in the metropolitan area", he said, "The total number of customers has now reached more than 10,800 after the acute crisis of food and water."

On the recommendation of the ward office, the institute has taken 6 thousand 370 rupees and is proceeding with the new water connection work.