Maintaining Stone Waterspouts

Kesh B Malla
The Rising Nepal, 31/05/09


Hundreds of stone water spouts, which hold religious, cultural and environmental significance, lie in a poor state in Kathmandu. There are around 353 stone waterspouts in the Kathmandu Valley, which can contribute to improving the water supply especially during the dry season. Unfortunately, enough attention has not been paid to the maintenance and management of these stone waterspouts, letting many of them to go dry.

These stone waterspouts are threatened by decreasing rate of water flow, poor water quality, drainage and overall management problem. This has occurred due to the destruction of water sources, which are the raj kulo, ponds, wells and aquifers. Also due to availability of piped water, the traditional management system of these stone waterspouts has been grossly neglected.

The rapid urbanisation that has taken place in the past two decades in Kathmandu has also played a role in the destruction of the water sources. With Kathmandu coming under a concrete jungle, the groundwater table cannot sufficiently recharge. Similarly, some public places like Saptapatal Pokhari in Lagankhel, which is believed to be the source of many stone waterspouts around, have been encroached upon.

When Kathmandu is going dry, and there has been a lot of concern about its poor water supply system, these stone waterspouts - some of them functioning and serving as many as 20,000 people each - hold substantial meaning. When we cannot conserve and utilise the already existing resources like these, one may question what will possibly happen to the highly ambitious Melamchi project without proper management and limited community participation?

Proper attention must be given to enhancing community participation in the maintenance and management of these resources. Maybe, traditions like the ‘Sithi Nakha’ of the Newars, which is marked to preserve the stone waterspouts ponds and wells will help in their conservation. Once a year on this day, the wells and stone waterspouts are cleaned.

In the mean time, some positive initiatives have been taken up in places like Nagbahal, Alkwohiti and Wasahiti in Patan area, where the community is greatly involved in their conservation. And the community has given a new lease of life to the heritage by renovating them. Although some stone waterspouts have gone dry, the renovation has, at least, helped keep the relic intact.

Despite the involvement of several organisations working for the conservation of these stone waterspouts in the valley, the situation still remains bleak. There is a dire need for an active and responsible local community as well as authority to act upon this issue immediately.