KATHMANDU, August 2: The resumption of Melamchi drinking water supply to Kathmandu Valley has fallen uncertain as the massive flood on Sunday caused further damages in the infrastructures of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project.

The massive flood that hit the project site of the Melamchi Project on Sunday morning swept away at least 46 houses and two bridges in Helambu Rural Municipality and riverbank areas of Melamchi River. The flood also caused severe damage in the Project’s vital infrastructures in Ambathang, the main gateway of the Melamchi Water Supply Project. The devastating flood in the Melamchi River on June 15 had damaged the head works of the project, obstructing the water supply to the valley.

Speaking at a meeting of the parliamentary Development and Technology Committee on Monday, Secretary at the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation Pramila Devi Bajracharya said the headwork space of the project has been filled with precipitation brought about by the flood in the Melamchi River. “It has made the authorities concerned unsure when they would be able to resume the water distribution to the Valley,” she said.

The Melamchi Drinking Development Committee had halted the water supply temporarily for two months starting from mid-June for carrying out repair work of the tunnel. Following the damages caused by the flood just on the next day of the targeted work, the project had been seeking help from government authorities including Nepal Army to restart water distribution only by mid-February 2022.   

Since last March, Melamchi water supply had been providing some respite to the residents in Kathmandu Valley who faced acute shortage of drinking water. The long-awaited project witnessed completion of its construction in three decades.   

 
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