Dhanusha, Feb. 17 -- Geeta Sah of ward 4, Bateshwar Rural Municipality in Dhanusha, has been fetching water from a tube well for the past 15 years. Her struggle began after two attempts to install a hand pump near her home failed. She also spent Rs20,000 digging a well at a neighbour's house. As summer approaches, she worries about water scarcity again. Residents from over 100 households in the area report similar problems, with well water levels already dropping.

Despite 45 percent of Nepal's total land being forested, Madhesh has only 3.72 percent forest cover. This contributes to worsening water scarcity and environmental problems in the Tarai-Madhesh region. Last year, both federal and provincial governments declared Madhesh a disast...