Birendranagar, the provincial capital of Karnali Province, has been hit hard by the drinking water crisis caused by prolonged drought and reduced natural sources of drinking water. Around 20,000 households now receive water just once every four days. These factors, together with the city’s antiquated infrastructure and rapid urbanization, have made the situation worse for a population of more than 200,000.
The government has initiated the Rs 6 billion Bheri Lift Drinking Water Project to pump water from the Bheri River to resolve this issue. The project, based on a new pipeline system and reservoir, is designed to deliver 560 liters per second and is managed by a Chinese company. It is a cooperative work between the federal, provincial, and local governments, and it is expected to be finished within two and a half years.