Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) is still using the old pipelines in the area and a quarter of the water is lost to leakage, according to available figures. The reason behind dillydallying in switching to the modern pipelines is the vested interests linked to procurements and maintenance of the old system, according to sources close to the government.
KUKL's average leakage of water supply is 40 percent. It supplies up to 150 million liters of water a day.
The Project Implementation Directorate, the Melamchi Water Supply sub-project that is working to lay the pipelines, has repeatedly asked KUKL in writing to start using the new pipelines and the issue has also been discussed at high-level meetings. "But KUKL has remained idle in discarding the old system for fear of losing procurement opportunities and other hidden benefits linked to this," said the sources.
According to KUKL figures, the amount earmarked for repair and maintenance procurement is Rs 90 million per annum and KUKL officials say half the money goes into labor charges. KUKL's annual expenditure is Rs 920 million while its revenue is Rs 840 million. It incurs red ink to the tune of Rs 80 million per year.
The areas covered by pipelines that came into full operation six months ago include Om Hospital, Chabahil Ganeshsthan, Mitrapark, Jaybageshwari, Siphal, Kalopul and Bhatkekopul.
The new pipelines ensure equal water supply pressure for up to an elevation of 10 meters for each household, via a loop system that is different from the existing dead-end system that brings water only to low lying areas and areas close to the main supply and starting points.
Under the new system, households can get water without using pumps and it also ensures no contact with contamination sources such a faulty sewerage.
The supply volume will be increased by bringing leakage down below 15 percent, the minimum required for leakage management.
The sub-project has completed connecting 21,696 households, mostly inside the Ring Road, and some other areas can be connected in a few more weeks, officials said. These households account for about 26 percent of the total targeted under the first phase.
Areas in Baneshwar were nearly ready for bringing the new pipes into operation in October 2014, but road expansion for the 18th SAARC summit resulted in damage. The pipeline work in the area is now in the last stage. Testing is also under way in several other areas.
Though the Melamchi project is set to miss its April 2016 deadline also, the sub-project has been laying the larger pipes for supplying six reservoirs in different places and is also working on construction of the reservoirs themselves.
Spokesperson at KUKL Milan Kumar Shakya acknowledged that saving water by bringing in the new pipelines is as good as finding a new source of water. Asked why they are not interested in bringing the new system into operation soon, he said the sub-project should first hand over the system to KUKL. He denied that there were vested interests that feared loss of procurement opportunities.
Spokesperson for the sub-project Leela Prasad Dhakal said discussions with KUKL are underway to start bringing the completed part of the distribution system into use. "Newly appointed KUKL General Manager Mahesh Prasad Bhattarai is positive about this," added Dhakal.
KUKL spokesman Shakya said leakage will be reduced and the supply system will become more efficient when the new pipelines are in place but KUKL won't see much improvement in its income.
It is also learnt that the Asian Development Bank, the development partner, has shown concern over delay in bringing the systems into use.
The areas where laying of pipelines has been completed are Gyaneshwar, Sinamangal, Gaushala, Handigaun, Kalopul, Koteshwar, Narephant, Gwarko, Manbhawan, Lagankhel, Maitidevi, Ratopul, Ghattekulo, Dillibazar, Setopul, Old Baneshwar, Anamanagar, Babarmahal, Sorhakhutte, Sanepa, Kupandol, Subidhanagar, Sahayoginagar, Banasthali, Shova Bhagwati and Chamati Planning.
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