Water mills closed as sources of water dry up

Beni / January 12: The water mills run in the rural areas in Myagdi district for grinding grains are being closed gradually after the sources of water dried up in some villages, locals said.

As high as 20 water mills run in Jyamrukkot, Jhamkimli, Marang, Bim, Muna, Barjanga, Rum and other VDCs were closed for lack of water. It is said that the livelihoods of the locals is also affected following the closure of the water mills.

Dil Bahadur Shris of Arjekhola, who was running a water mill for three decades, said that he decided to close his water mill after the water source dried up year on year.

He said, “The water mills would vanish within some years if the trends of draught and climate change continue in the same manner.”

Manlal Khatri, a resident of Barjanga-7, said that the food items prepared after grinding in the water mills are tastier, healthy and could be stored for long. The locals have asked the attention of the stakeholders for the promotion of the water mills arguing that they are also cheaper compared to the diesel consuming mills in terms of their operation too. RSS