KATHMANDU, Jan 2: With the completion of 99 percent works of Melamchi Drinking Water Project, Kathmandu Valley, where the federal capital city is located, is expected to get access to clean drinking water from the Melamchi River starting mid-April, 2021.

According to Rajendra Pant, information officer at the Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee, the tunnel that takes water from Melamchi to Sundarijal before its distribution is expected to be ready soon. “It will take another two months of study and observation after the tunnels come into operation,” he added.

The two doors of the tunnel had suffered a technical problem when a test was carried out last August. The doors that experienced technical problems have been repaired.

The works in the source at Ambathan in Helambu has been completed by 90 per cent. The remaining work includes a dam and a bridge, Pant said.

The 27-km tunnel-- the most important and complex part of the project--was completed three years ago. The project worth Rs 33 billion is expected to bring to the federal capital 170 million liters of water every day from the Melamchi River.

However, the project continues to suffer problems one after another, leading to its perennial delay. It is now but nearing completion.

Meanwhile, the second phase of the project has also begun. The second phase will see another 170 million litres of water being supplied to Kathmandu. Furthermore, the third phase will also draw out 170 million litres of water every day. In total, the capital will receive 540 million liters of water every day from Melamchi.

(With inputs from RSS) 

 
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