By Amar Raj Naharki

Tanahun, Feb. 18 : Junior Chamber International (JCI), also known as Jaycees, has launched a campaign to preserve public wells, taps, ponds and rest houses of Vyas Municipality in the district.

Pavindra Bhattarai, former chairman of Jaycees and its current national treasurer, called it alarming that many historically and socially important ponds and water sources were being destroyed or encroached upon while building and expanding roads and those that remained were not being looked after. “That is why Jaycees launched this preservation campaign,” he told The Rising Nepal.

Jaycees Vyas Chairman Laxmi Bhakta Khanal informed that the taps and wells were being conserved to put an end to the present situation where people have to pay for water.“The traditional water sources do not exist anymore and people without money are deprived of water. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Suresh Puri, former chairman of Jaycees and coordinator of the tap construction committee, said that the tap was constructed at a cost of Rs. 320,000.

“The money was raised from Jaycees members,”.

Krishna Hari Gaire, principal of Bal Mandir Secondary School in Damauli, was ecstatic at the work done by Jaycees.

“At a time when so-called social organisations are grabbing public land, destroying public wells and spouts and selling bottled water, Jaycees is really doing an exemplary work through promoting conservation,” he said.

Khanal shared that as a part of the campaign, Jaycees had also constructed a communal tap in Vyas Municipality – 3 so that people could quench their thirst free of cost.

According to JCI, the tap will provide purified water 24 hours a day. The Euroguard purifier is used to ensure the water is safe to drink.

Suresh Puri, former chairman of Jaycees and coordinator of the tap construction committee, said that the tap was constructed at a cost of Rs. 320,000.

“The money was raised from Jaycees members,” he said.

The tap was inaugurated by Vyas Mayor Baikuntha Neupane on Tuesday.

He expressed the municipality’s commitment to financially support all the social activities conducted by Jaycees. Similarly, Prem Kumar Shrestha, chairman of Ward No. 3, stated that the ward would help preserve the tap.

Ward member Rabin Poudel claimed that the communal tap would benefit many people.

The tap is made of stone and includes artistic carvings on it.