Lalitpur – A major milestone in improving access to safe drinking water was achieved in Godawari Municipality with the formal inauguration and handover of the Dukuchhap Water Supply System to the Dukuchhap Water and Sanitation Users Committee (DWSUC).
The handover ceremony was held in Ward No. 8 of Godawari Municipality, marking the successful completion of a project that has extended safe, reliable, and sustainable drinking water services to 733 households, along with the ward office, four schools, and two healthcare facilities.
The project was jointly implemented by the Centre for Integrated Urban Development (CIUD) with technical and financial support from WaterAid Nepal and The Coca-Cola Foundation, in collaboration with Godawari Municipality and the Dukuchhap Water and Sanitation Users Committee. The initiative is regarded as a practical contribution toward the Government of Nepal’s “One House, One Tap” vision and the commitment of development partners to achieving universal access to safe drinking water.
The water supply system was jointly inaugurated by Godawari Municipality Mayor Gajendra Maharjan, Dr. Aditya Panda, Director and Senior Manager of Sustainability for India and South-west Asia at The Coca-Cola Company, WaterAid Nepal Country Director Sudarshan Neupane, and CIUD Executive Director Rija Joshi. The dignitaries officially launched the system by opening taps at the ward office and a community household.
A key highlight of the event was the formal handover of the completed system to the Dukuchhap Water and Sanitation Users Committee. A handover certificate was jointly presented to DWSUC Chairperson Gyanendra KC, symbolizing the community’s ownership and responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the system.
The program also included a presentation of the project’s financial overview, highlighting significant contributions from local residents through both cash and in-kind support. In recognition of their efforts, certificates and tokens of appreciation were presented to project team members from CIUD and WaterAid Nepal, as well as to individuals who played important roles in the successful implementation of the project.
To strengthen the long-term sustainability of the water supply system, CIUD handed over key management documents, including the Asset Management Plan (AMP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and Business Development Plan (BDP), to the users committee. Certificates of appreciation and sanitation kits were also distributed to representatives of 15 households.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Aditya Panda said that The Coca-Cola Foundation invests nearly USD 100 million annually in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives around the world. He noted that the Dukuchhap project was selected following scientific assessments, baseline studies, and evidence-based planning conducted in collaboration with WaterAid Nepal. He expressed satisfaction over the project’s successful completion and its positive impact on the community.
WaterAid Nepal Country Director Sudarshan Neupane described the initiative as a model WASH project and stressed the importance of ensuring long-term sustainability and maintaining quality service delivery.
Similarly, CIUD Executive Director Rija Joshi highlighted the strong partnership among development partners, local government, and community members. She acknowledged the dedication and hard work of the technical and field teams throughout the project period.
Sneha Rajbhandari, Head of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability at Bottlers Nepal, shared her experience during the event, saying, “I drank water directly from the tap for the first time in Kathmandu. This is a huge success.”
Ward No. 6 Chairperson Bishnu Man Maharjan and Ward No. 8 Chairperson Suka Bahadur Lama appreciated the collective efforts that helped address long-standing challenges related to water scarcity and waterborne diseases in the area.
Mayor Gajendra Maharjan commended the collaborative approach adopted by all stakeholders and praised the project’s tangible achievements. He emphasized the importance of sustainable water resource management, source protection, and continued community engagement to ensure the long-term success of the water supply system.
Concluding the program, DWSUC Chairperson Gyanendra KC reflected on the community’s past struggles with water scarcity and acknowledged the commitment of local residents who contributed to the installation of household water connections. He reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to ensuring the effective operation, maintenance, and sustainability of the system for future generations.
The project, titled “Driving Innovative Piped Water Supply for Access to Safely Managed Water for Communities Affected by Water Crisis in South Asia (Dukuchhap WASH Project),” was implemented between January 2024 and December 2025 through a collaborative partnership among Godawari Municipality, WaterAid Nepal, CIUD, and the Dukuchhap Water and Sanitation Users Committee.
