Water from Kulekhani could be distributed in Kathmandu: Minister Chaudhari

Kathmandu / June 21: Minister for Drinking Water Umakanta Chaudhari has said that the government will lift water from Kulekhani to distribute in the Kathmandu Valley.

Some 150 million liters of water will be lifted daily for distribution by constructing a dam at the Kulekhani stream in the Makawanpur district.

Minister Chaudhari was on an inspection visit to the proposed dam site as per the pre-feasibility study report on the issue prepared by the Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board.

Talking to the journalists, Minister Chaudhari said that the water from Kulekhani could be distributed in the Valley during the dry season and in times when the Melamchi River water cannot be diverted to Sundarijal for distribution in the Valley.

He said for the time being the water from Kulekhani could be lifted to Kathmandu within two years, and for the long-term, a dam was needed to be built there.

Dr. Sanjiv Bikram Rana, executive director of the Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board, viewed that pipelines could be taken along the side of the Kathmandu-Tarai Fast track from the dam of the Sisneri stream and that the project was feasible from all aspects.

The proposed dam site is located some 14 km away to the south of the pumping station at Pharping in Kathmandu. The water could be sent to the KUKL reservoir tank at Bhaisipati in Lalitpur, according to the study.

Executive director Dr. Rana said that the dam of the Sisneri cum Kulekhani streams would be 340 meters long and 60 meters high.

The proposed dam site is located at the border of Bhimphedi and Indra Sarowar Rural Municipalities.

The study report estimated that the construction cost of the dam and distribution system would be Rs. 26 billion and it would take about 6 years for the completion.

Keeping this in mind, Minister Chaudhari said that he was affirmative to make a policy decision for operating an interim project of water lifting and preparing a DPR of the project for the long run.