Lack of sufficient water, inequitable distribution and pervasive leakage have led to unimagined hardships for residents of Kathmandu. Even the little water that we have cannot be distributed to all households evenly owing to lack of systematic distribution network. On the other hand, water needs of Kathmandu valley is increasing by the day. So all eyes are on the Melamchi project.The government has accorded it high priority. It aims to provide an additional 510 million liters of water to Kathmandu valley from Melamchi, Yangri and Larke rivers of Sindhupalchowk district. In the first phase, 170 million liters will be delivered on a daily basis from Melamchi River. The 170 million liters from Yangri and 170 million liters from Larke rivers will be added in near future. But people in Kathmandu are running out of patience.
In April 2014, then Minister for Urban Development, Dr Narayan Khadka, had expressed his commitment to complete all necessary works and start supplying Melamchi water to each and every household in Kathmandu from the Nepali new year (April 13, 2016). Perhaps it would have been possible but the devastating earthquakes delayed the project. Frequent aftershocks obstructed Melamchi tunnel and pipeline extension works for a long time. Then the Indian blockade added to the complexity. Project Implementation Directorate (PID) of Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation together with Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited is now implementing Melamchi Sub Project-2.
In 2000 it was envisioned that all activities would be carried out under the umbrella of Melamchi Water Supply Development Board. But the project was separated into Sub Project-1 and Sub Project-2 for efficient implementation. Under Sub Project 1, construction of 26.5 kilometers of water diversion tunnel and water treatment plants is underway (with support from JICA). Sub Project-2 is undertaking construction of Bulk Distribution System to transport water from Sundarijal Water Treatment Plant to different reservoir tanks, to distribute it through different distribution networks.
According to Ghanashyam Bhattarai, Executive Director of Malamchi Sub Project-1, "An agreement has been signed with an Italian contractor, CMC, to complete tunnel construction work by mid-October 2016. Out of 26.6 kilometer of tunnel, about 14 kilometers has been completed while 12.5 kilometers is still remaining. We intend to extend the deadline." This is encouraging.
Engineer Tiresh Prasad Khatri of Sub Project 2 states that pipeline extension is being accelerated to match the pace of Sub Project-1. KUKL has completed 287 kilometers of pipeline extension, out of 672 km.
Around 21,696 households have been connected with drinking water taps to deliver Melamchi water soon after it comes to Kathmandu. About 30-35 percent of PID/KUKL (Melamchi Sub Project-2) is already complete. Apart from Kathmandu Valley Drinking Water Improvement Project, Government of Nepal and Asian Development Bank are implementing Kathmandu Valley Drinking Water and Sanitation Project and Kathmandu Valley Sewerage Management Project through PID/KUKL.
Prior to construction of pipeline work, PID/KUKL is coordinating with utility operators like Nepal Electricity Authority, Nepal Telecom, Department of Roads and traffic police to minimize utility disturbance during construction hours. Generally pipes are laid and the holes filled up again within 24 hours of digging.
The open trench is filled with earth and resurfaced temporarily in order to ease pedestrian and vehicular movement. Pressure test is then carried out to ensure that pipes do not leak. After carrying out the technical test of those pipes, the road is resurfaced or brought back to previous condition. PID/KUKL had signed various agreements with Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Lalitpur Sub-metropolitan City for this purpose.
To ensure quality work and design, PID/KUKL has appointed Design and Supervision Consultant (DSC) and Community Awareness and Participation Consultant (CAPC) to look after socio-environmental issue. Tole and Lane Organization (TLO) has been formed in each working zone for proper coordination and successful implementation of the project. As of now, about 436 consultation meetings have been held with TLO. About 56 school-health programs were organized in working areas to disseminate information related to progress in Melamchi project.
Once Malamchi was only a concept, an imagination. Then it became a big source of gossip and even joke. Today with about 40 percent job done, it is staring at us as a real prospect. All we need to do now is support this initiative. Let us not create any obstacles. Melamchi is for us all.
The author is Resettlement Expert at Melamchi Sub Project-2
girithezorba@gmail.com
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