Project Update as at 30th April 2022

We have received a report from Renewable World showing some welcome progress with the SolarMUS project at Kavre Pokhari.

It is important to stress that this particular project, which is the focus of the contribution from our District clubs and contributors, forms a part of a much larger project programme of Renewable World in this area of Nepal involving 11 schools.

Kavre Pokhari is one of two schools benefitting from the installation of SolarMUS water pumping equipment and work on all the schools and the SolarMUS installations is coordinated to ensure efficient use of resources. It is reassuring, then, to be able to report the progress that has been made at Kavre Pokhari in line with the delivery of the whole RW programme.

The following is an extract from the report received.

The construction works of civil structure support from Gulmi Darbar Rural Municipality has been initiated in both proposed SMUS. 

• Thulo Khola Kabre Pokhari SMUS
• Wall concreting of RCC tank (Pump tank) has been completed. Now planning for roof shuttering. 
• Horizontal roughing filter wall construction completed. Valve chamber on ongoing.
• Collection chamber wall construction ongoing.
• First intake slab PCC done.

Photo 1: Collection Chamber, Horizontal Roughing Filter & RCC RVT (50 cum) under construction 

This is the work surrounding the water collection, filtering and pumping equipment being installed at the water source, which is attributed to the school and community at Kavre Pokhari.

A meeting was conducted with both SMUS committee and agreed to publish bid documents for the installation of the solar component. Further the meeting also agreed on the regular monitoring from the members of WUC along with project team on the civil construction work. And, to regular follow to municipality for the source as well as WUC legislation.

Photo 7: Thulo Khola Kabre Pokhari SMUS WUC meeting 

The Water Users Committee is established at an early stage in the project to ensure that the best use of resources is monitored and controlled.

1. Kabrepokhari School, Gulmi Darbar-2

Two room disable friendly toilet construction is nearly to complete. All sanitary fitting, tile works has been completed but still some work such as door panel, ventilation bars etc are yet to install.  Child friendly multiple tap (8 nos) handwashing station is nearly completed.

Chimney pipe and metal flap in the firing hole for the sanitary waste incinerator yet to install. Photo 15 & 16: Disable friendly toilet & incinerator under construction

The toilets will facilitate secondary level students. Tile and sanitary fittings work is ongoing. 

Photo 17: Urinal, tap and tile works ongoing at Girl’s toilet		Photo 18: Urinal, tap, tile works ongoing at Boy’s toilet.

The infrastructure work and improvements to the toilet facilities at the school represent the valuable progress made in advance of the improvements to the water supply for both the school and the local community.

Further developments

It is anticipated that work will continue in line with the overall programme schedule over the coming months, though at present the effects of the forthcoming monsoon season cannot be predicted.

Our club’s RotaKids group, at a local school, continue to follow this project and are using the subject to aid their studies of Nepal and the technology used in the SolarMUS equipment. 

In addition to these activities our club, like many others in the District, is attempting to assist with the situation around the war in Ukraine, both in terms of contributions to District 1070’s aid directed to Rotary Clubs in Ukraine and Poland, and also in providing assistance towards Ukrainian refugees in our region.

Further updates on the SoL Nepal project will continue to be provided regardless of the progress made each month until the satisfactory conclusion and the provision of the new water supply.

As a matter of interest Renewable World have provided us with a new video describing the installation of SolarMUS water pumps at several locations in another RW programme in Nepal. It can be seen here;