December 1: For more than a decade, the people of Babesa in Thimphu faced acute water shortage problem. The problem has finally been solved and residents now have non stop clean drinking water. For that, the residents who were tired of waiting for the government to do something, dug into their pockets and built a water reservoir.

The people of Babesa rejoiced as they inaugurated the new water reservoir they have built. People gathered around the reservoir as their names were called out by the water committee and the water distribution points handed to them. There were smiles all around as the cranes were opened and clean fresh water flowed out. People said they have been waiting for this day for years.

The old water supply scheme which was built in the 1970s had broken down with age, the pipes worn out. For over a decade, Babesa residents faced acute water shortage.

Waiting for the government to approve a water supply scheme was taking ages. So, the community decided to pool in their resources and built a new reservoir at a cost of about Nu. 400,000.

It provides water to more than 70 households in Babesa. The committee members said it can provide water to 100 additional households and serve the Babesa residents for the next 30 years.