KATHMANDU, Feb 22: With the completion of tunnel construction, the Melamchi Drinking Water Project started testing its 22-Kilometer long water tunnel on Monday filling water in it.

The test began following a program organized at the project site in Sindhupalchowk district to the north east of the country’s capital city. Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Mani Thapa and former minister Sher Bahadur Tamang among others were present on the occasion.

The drinking water is expected to be available to people in the Kathmandu Valley within a few months if things go as planned.

The project had conducted similar testing last July. However, four employees at the Melamchi Drinking Water Project were swept away by the Melamchi River when a water tunnel burst. Two of them were rescued immediately while the two others lost their lives in the incident. The testing of the tunnel was then postponed in view of technical problems.

Following the test of the tunnel, another test of water distribution pipe lines will be launched. Once the testing is completed, the water will then be distributed to the public in the Kathmandu Valley.

The Melamchi Drinking Water Project can bring in 51,000,000 liters of water daily in the Valley. 

 
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