KATHMANDU, Aug 14: Deputy Prime Minister and Urban Development Minister Prakash Man Singh discussed with experts the issue of increasing water flow in Bagmati, Bishnumati and other rivers in the Kathmandu Valley.
Deputy Prime Minister Singh held discussions with experts at the ministry on Wednesday, seeking suggestions on short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans for ensuring clean water flow in rivers such as the Bagmati and Bishnumati. Since taking charge of the ministry, Singh has been focused on revitalizing the valley's rivers, keeping the Kathmandu Valley clean and managing waste. He continues to engage in discussions to find solutions to these issues.
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"When there is no water flowing in the rivers, there is an increased odor. We are considering whether increasing the water flow by boring in some places might help. We are thinking about how to enhance the water flow in the rivers," said Deputy Prime Minister Singh. "We have received good suggestions from experts on this matter. In the future, we will sit with the experts to discuss and explore what additional measures can be taken."
Secretary of the Ministry, Mani Ram Gelal, said that experts have been consulted on various measures, including increasing the water flow immediately by boring at certain locations from Sundarijal to Teku, and storing water from Shankhamul to Kupandole to facilitate boating in the river.
In this regard, experts provided their opinions on the technical feasibility of increasing water flow in Kathmandu's rivers during the dry season. Some suggested that boring could be used as a short-term measure to enhance water flow, while others emphasized the need to evaluate the potential impacts of such activities.
Former Minister Ganesh Shah remarked that it is positive that the ministry has initiated discussions with experts regarding increasing water flow in the valley's rivers and managing waste in the valley.
"Let's think about working in different ways than what is currently being done," he said. "We also need to involve the public in matters such as cleaning rivers and waste management," he added.
