Kathmandu, Jan. 30
Minster for Water
Supply and Sanitation, Umakant Chaudhary has said that the work for the
reconstruction of the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) has begun to bring
the water from the Melamchi River temporarily to the Kathmandu Valley.
The national pride
project’s head works and a part of tunnel were damaged by the floods caused by
torrential rains on 15 June, 2021.
Contractor Sino Hydro
has reached the site and started work to clear the debris deposited by the
floods and landslide upstream of the river.
“Currently, work has
begun to bring the water to the capital valley by creating a diversion besides
the head works,” Minister Chaudhary said at a press conference organised at the
Ministry in Singha Durbar on Sunday.
He informed that the
short run test of about 100 kilometre pipeline was conducted some days ago. So
far, 350 km pipeline is tested and is ready for water distribution.
According to him, since
Sindhupalchok was announced as a crisis-hit area until October 2021, no work on
the project could be conducted before the festive season.
“The Asian Development
Bank is conducting a study on the details of the reasons behind the floods and
landslides, damage caused by them and permanent alternatives to conserve the watershed
region,” said Minister Chaudhary.
Earlier on Friday, the
contractor was mobilised to the site after more than seven months the floods
damaged the intake of the project.
The project has said
that water would be brought to the valley by 14 April 2022, the first day of
Nepali Year 2079.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 31 January 2022.
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