The trip has been successful although during the first week of my arrival a bandah
(national strike) had been called by the Maoists, which meant there were no vehicles
allowed on the roads (except bicycles) and no shops or banks open, which obviously curtailed my planned activities.

Happily the bandah was lifted towards the end of that week and I was able to go and
visit our latest drinking water project in Pipaldali (near Sarangkot) in Kaski District).

This has been a tough project for the local workers, to lay over 7 km of water pipe along the side of steep and dangerous terrain.

Phase 1 is now complete, and the water from the four springs has now been directed to feed into a 1¾” pipe, which traverses the hillside and delivers more than enough water to the existing tank (yet to be refurbished).

I am told by the local community leader that not only is there sufficient clean drinking water for the 270 (or so) houses in the village, but there is even
enough for them to have a shower and be able to do their washing without having to go down to the river.

Phase 2 will be to assist in building an underground reservoir tank about
¼ km from the main roadside tank.

This will enable a controlled delivery of water to the main tank and the various standing pipe collection points throughout the village. I had the privilege of
being the first to break the earth where the underground tank will go.