KATHMANDU, Jan 15: The parliamentary Development and Technology Committee has directed the government to implement its plan to start temporary operation of the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) to ensure water supply in the Kathmandu Valley during this winter.

The Ministry of Water Supply last November had forwarded its plan to partially operate the MWSP, which faced massive damages in its infrastructure due to multiple floods triggered by heavy rainfall, to supply water during winter to address the acute shortage of water. The ministry had sought to clean sediments settled in the headwork area of the MSWP and immediately start reconstruction of temporary structures. However, the authority concerned has failed to materialize its plan as of now.  

The parliamentary committee meeting held on Friday said the government’s apathy to coordinate with authorities concerned has caused delays to materialize the planned work. The committee has also directed the government to carry out the third party assessment of the actual damages caused to the MWSP.

Currently, the demand for water in the valley stands at around 435 million liters daily. However, Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) has been distributing only 110 million liters on a daily basis.

After water supply from MWSP started, the operation that lasted for only around four months, households received much respite receiving water supply on every next day. The government had also expressed its commitment to completely rebuild the damaged infrastructure and reinstate water supply from MWSP in its previous form from April. 

 
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