An Impact Evaluation of the Community Drinking Water and Sanitation Project at Chandragadhi in Jhapa District, Nepal

Abstract

To provide safe water, various efforts have been made by the government sectoras wellas the private sector in the process of planned development. But, the people’sparticipation have not received priority until the Seventh Plan and it was only from theEighth Plan that the mobilization of people on water sectors as well as otherdevelopment sectors started to gain attention. Till now many development sectorsincluding the water sectors are already handed over to communities and this hasbrought good results. Despite being the second richest country in the world for waterresources, Nepal’s utilization of water resources has not been satisfactory because ofpoor economic condition, unskilled manpower and corruption. So, the priority shouldbe given for proper uses of these water resources and provide safe and sufficient waterto thepeople. This study has been conducted at ward 6 of Chandragadhi VDC in Jhapa district. Thegeneral objective is to analyze the impact of the project in the study area. Primary andsecondary data were used to collect the information, and tools like observation, formaland non-formal discussions, interviews were held to collect other necessary information.Descriptive and analytical research designs have been followed to describe and examinethe findings of the study. Out of the total of 300 beneficiary households in ward 6, 80household members were taken as the sample, following the simple random samplingmethod. The study shows that the people have experienced significant changes after the initiationof the project. They are satisfied with the project because of the supply of safe andsufficient water. They are getting 10-15 hours of water supply per day and the supply ofwater is regular. Most of the people in the study area are using this project for morethan 15 years and they think that this project has done better than before after it washanded over to the community. People’s participation in the project is satisfactory, as people from all backgrounds are participating equally and till now no conflict has occurred among the users in connection with water distribution. The water users committee of this project has done some sanitation works like the setting up of slaughter house and public taps, and it has made more plans for the future. This project has also created both temporary and permanent jobs for the local people and there is sufficientman power in the project for maintenance. Based on its findings, the paper suggests some strategies in order to improve the status of the project in the future. Besides, it also indicates some areas/potentials for further research.