KATHMANDU, DEC 19 - Private tankers carrying drinking water, which are Kathmandu dwellers’ only solution to the acute water shortage in the Valley, are making good business.

Suman Pathak, Chairman of the Nepal Drinking Water Suppliers, estimates that sales of drinking water alone generate nearly Rs. 4,000,000 every month in the Valley.

At least 90 drinking water suppliers, owning nearly 400 tankers, are currently in operation in the Valley “We are supplying water to at least 60 percent of Kathmandu dwellers.” Pathak stated, adding, “If the operations stop, Kathmandu will face a severe water crunch.” Pathak himself has been running the New Balaju Water Supply, which has five tankers in operation, for the last 20 years.

“With the earnings from the water business I am paying my childrens’ college fees and running my household quite comfortably,” said Pathak. According to Pathak, he earns at least Rs. 60,000 a month from the business. Pathak said that the water for distribution is collected from nearly 30 bore wells in the Kathmandu valley. The quality of the water is ascertained from the depth of the well, which can be 40, 100 or, 300 meters deep. “We only sell water that is taken from wells that have a depth of at least 100 meters,” said Pathak,

Ujjwal Shakya of Satdobato has been running the Satdobato Water Supply for the last 14 years. Shakya supplies water for both drinking and construction purposes. “This business selling water is pretty good. I have been earning enough to run my household,” said Shakya, adding, “And this is despite the fact that it’s a seasonal business-six months good and six months okay.”

Shakya earns at least Rs. 30,000 a month from his two tankers. He charges a fee of Rs. 1200 - Rs. 1500 for a drinking water tanker of a 6,000 litre capacity, depending on the distance covered during delivery. Water for construction in the same capacity costs between Rs. 800 - Rs. 1100. “The power-cut last year greatly increased the demand for drinking water,” Shakya added.

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