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Living space
Despite living on land that had been settled for more than 50 years, the residents of the slum communities along the banks of the Vishnumati River, in Kathmandu, Nepal, led a life of constant uncertainty. As squatters, they were socially marginalised, and it was a daily struggle to access even the most basic of water and sanitation services. When plans to build a new road through the area were proposed, their lack of land rights meant that 44 of these households faced eviction. Yet these families - some 250 people in total - are now residents of a unique housing project pioneered by Lumanti, WaterAid's partner in Nepal, an alternative living space a world away from the polluted riverbank. The Kirtipur Housing Project is the first of its kind in Nepal to tackle the environmental and social problems faced specifically by Nepal's urban poor. Sturdy houses are built using low cost, earthquake resistant materials and are provided to the families on the basis of an interest free loan. The project has also adopted the principles of community based water resource management. "All of the houses have roofs designed for rainwater harvesting and when it rains this flows in to the large storage tanks," explains Lumanti project manager, Bijendra Pasacche. "There are three large tanks on the site. Then they can collect water through the handpumps outside these houses." Two wells have also been dug, and an iron removal plant and water filter installed. There is a wastewater treatment plant which uses a reed bed to produce water suitable for farming and household use. Each of the 44 houses in the community also has a latrine, plumbed in to one of two septic tanks. The engagement of the community in planning, designing and executing the project has been the key to its success. Control of the community water resources is handed over to the people themselves and specific training is given on the operation of the technology involved. As Krishna Patiyar, the chairperson of the community, explains: "All of the designs and the decisions were made with the community - this was what we wanted. Before we used to live on the river and it was smelly and dirty. During the rains our houses used to flood. Without Lumanti's support I could never imagine living here - we love it." To find out more about WaterAid in Nepal's work helping more people like Krishna to live sustainably and with the dignity they deserve, listen to our podcast with Lajana Manandhar, Executive Director of Lumanti.
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