Kathmandu, January 2:

The Melamchi Water Supply Development Board (MWSDB) is thinking of suspending the works of the Melamchi Water Supply Project due to continuous pressure from the locals and “their ever-growing inappropriate demands,” a highly-placed source said today.

The source said the board meeting held here on Monday discussed the suspension of the project.

“There is no systematic approach to settle the problem,” the source said, adding that the project cannot go ahead if the locals’ present tendency to demand whatever they like and whenever they like continues.

“How can we run the project if there is interruption in every step we take,” the source questioned, adding the board meeting “has not ruled out the project’s suspension owing to the impending problems that cannot be sorted out without political commitments”.

The project works have remained halted for over seven days. “Suspension is inevitable if the government fails to act on time,” the source added.

The project, which aims at meeting the increasing drinking water demand in Kathmandu, incurs a loss of Rs 5 million every day, a consultant said.