KATHMANDU, Apr 3 (NNN-NEPALNEWS) – The long wait for Nepalis in the capital, Kathmandu, to get drinking water from the Melamchi river has become a reality, after Nepali President, Bidya Devi Bhandari, inaugurated the distribution of water from the country’s largest water supply project yesterday.
President Bhandari inaugurated the distribution of water, by opening a tap in Kathmandu. After the Chinese contractor, Sinohydro Corporation Limited, completed digging the tunnel of the project, water was released into the tunnel to test if there is any leakage.
The Melamchi project aims to supply 170 million litres of fresh water per day, largely relieving the water shortage in the valley.
During the inauguration ceremony, Nepali Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, congratulated residents of Kathmandu, who receive the water after a prolonged wait. “It is one of recent success stories in our development efforts,” he said.
Water received from the Melamchi project has been distributed to 80,000 taps in Kathmandu Valley, at a time when local residents face acute shortage of water in the dry season.
“People in Kathmandu Valley will feel huge relief in the dry season this year, with supply of water from the Melamchi Project.”
Previously, there had been supply of only 80 million litres per day, from the existing sources of water in Kathmandu. “We will also soon get supply of additional water from the Melamchi project and water will be supplied to all households in the capital city gradually.”
The actual demand for water in Kathmandu Valley is 430 million litres per day, if water is supplied 24 hours a day. “But water to be available from the Melamchi project, along with existing sources will be enough for all households to meet their minimum water needs.”
The Nepali government also plans to launch a second phase of the Melamchi project, adding an additional 170 million litres of water per day. The prime minister has instructed government officials to complete the project in three years.
The drinking water project was launched in 2000, but was delayed due to a number of factors, including the devastating earthquake in 2015.
In Sept, 2019, Sinohydro was awarded the contracts for completing the remaining works of both tunnel-digging and the headworks. After the Chinese contractor completed the tunnel-digging work, water was diverted to the tunnel by erecting a temporary dam on the Melamchi river, which lies in the north of Kathmandu, in the neighbouring Sindhupalchowk district.– NNN-NEPALNEWS
