Process for reconstruction of Melamchi Drinking Water Project complete

Kathmandu / Jan 30: Minister for Drinking Water Umakanth Chaudhary has announced that the process to divert water from Melamchi to Kathmandu has started. He also said that the government has decided to move ahead with the formation process of the Water Tariff Fixation Commission.

Speaking at a press meet today, Minister Chaudhary expressed his belief that the tariff rates will be fixed in a relative, scientific and practical manner after the formation of the commission. Similarly, he said that the process was moved ahead to restore the project which has already used up a huge amount of investment and has been left stranded. Minister Chaudhary also said that the ministry will bring special programs for the conservation of drinking water sources and their management.

On the occasion, Minister Chaudhary said that an agreement has been signed with the construction company SinoHydro after completing the necessary process to divert drinking water from Melamchi to the Kathmandu Valley as a temporary measure. He said that the construction company has already reached the site and started excavating the debris.

Similarly, he said that the necessary action plans to resolve the issue will be formulated and implemented after receiving the study report regarding the recent floods and landslides that struck Melamchi from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).