KATHMANDU, MAY 16
The Melamchi Water Supply Project is undergoing a temporary interruption in its water supply for maintenance works.
In view of the potential risks posed by the forthcoming monsoon season, and with the aim of ensuring uninterrupted water supply for the entire year, the Melamchi Water Supply Development Committee has announced a scheduled 10-day closure of the Melamchi tunnel.
The purpose of this closure is to facilitate construction, improvement, and the integration of mechanical components within the audit tunnel situated at the project's primary headworks in Ambathan.
The project had first started distributing the water from the Melamchi River within Kathmandu on March 28, 2021.
However the project which supplies 170 million litres of water daily to the Kathmandu valley, has faced significant setbacks due to the devastating floods and landslides in Sindhupalchowk on June 1, that year.
The floods and landslides had completely damaged the headworks, blocking it with pebbles, sand, and mud. The supply of drinking water from the Melamchi River was resumed from December last year.
While efforts are underway to temporarily divert Melamchi water, the committee remains determined to restore full operations and provide uninterrupted water supply throughout the year, barring exceptional circumstances.
Throughout the temporary closure period, Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Ltd (KUKL) has made adjustments to the existing water distribution schedule in order to ensure seamless service.
According to Milan Shakya, CEO of KUKL, a revised water distribution schedule incorporating extended intervals, has been developed and will be accessible via KUKL's official website and its Facebook page.
"Upon completion, we anticipate resuming water supply from the Melamchi tunnel even during this year's rainy season, barring any unfavourable conditions,"Shakya informed.
'We acknowledge the inconvenience caused to consumers during this temporary interruption and express gratitude for their understanding and support."
A version of this article appears in the print on May 17, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
