Of the total budget allocated for the purpose, the government has set aside Rs 3.99 billion to improve the coverage in rural areas as all households need to have access to safe drinking water and toilet by 2017. [break]
As water crises have been deepening in hill districts like Ramechhap, Kavre Palanchowk and Panchthar during dry seasons, the government has allocated Rs 250 million for ensuring drinking water in those areas.
According to Secretary of Ministry of Urban Development Kishor Thapa, Rs 300 million has also been allotted to promote public private partnership projects at VDC level. Likewise, the government is also planning to add water supply facility in Tansen of Palpa district, a fast urbanizing town which is facing acute shortage of water.
As per the national census 2011, current situation of the drinking water and sanitation lags behind the government target. Though 82.7 percent of households are connected with government´s supply system, only 47.78 percent households receive safe drinking water from tap. Likewise, 35 percent of households use water from tube wells and hand pumps.
The sanitation coverage is still low as only 61 percent households have toilet, though the government has to meet 100 percent toilet coverage by 2017. Just eight districts have been declared Open Defecation Free Zone till date.
Similarly, Rs 560 million has been allocated for the development of the Bagmati River corridor to control encroachment and to make the river free from sewerage.
Meanwhile, the government has allocated separate Rs 5.24 billion to continue tunnel construction from Melamchi to Sundarijal.
On July 10, the MoUD had inaugurated the construction of water treatment plant at Sundarijal which has the capacity to treat 80.5 million liters of water per day. The project is supported by JICA.
The standard of water brought from Melamchi would meet the national standard after treatment at the center, according to Suresh Prakash Acharya, spokesperson of the MoUD.
Two international companies M/S VA Tech Wabag Limited, Austria and Pratibha Industries, India had received the joint contract to complete the project till November 2015.
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