Kathmandu, April 12

Local leaders and activists today demanded that the Melamchi Water Supply Project address their demands before starting supply of water to Kathmandu.

Speaking at a programme here today, chair of Melamchi social uplift programme Upendra Tamang said, “The government must not take water from our area for granted. If our demands are not addressed properly, we won’t allow distribution of water to Kathmandu from Melamchi.”

Tamang said the government should fulfil its promise of creating job opportunities for the locals and launch development projects in the area.

The local of 14 erstwhile VDCs are members of the programme. Locals of Melamchi Municipality, Panch Pokhari Thampal Rural Municipality and Helambu Rural Municipality are also part of the programme.

Similarly, Upendra Tamang, a member of Melamchi stakeholders’ committee, said, “The project will affect hundreds

of people from the Majhicommunity who depend on fishing. The government should think about them and also bring programmes to minimise the project’s impact on the area’s ecology.”

Responding to issues raised by locals, Minister for Water Supply and Sanitation Bina Magar said, “Each family in the affected area will be provided incentives.”

Minister for Law Sher Bahadur Tamang, who was elected member of Parliament from the same area, said the government must recognise the sacrifice made by Melamchi locals for the people of Kathmandu. “Melamchi water is like our bride, which we are sending to Kathmandu.  Therefore, people of Kathmandu should treat it like their daughter.”

Asian Development Board’s Director General for South Asia Hun Kim said, “Although the tunnel breakthrough seemed challenging, the major challenge is to properly utilise the water and not to misuse it.”