Kathmandu, March 14

Environment Protection Committee of the Parliament today instructed Melamchi Water Supply Project to spray water to reduce dust pollution in areas where water pipelines are being installed in Kathmandu Valley.

The committee directed the Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation, Project Implementation Directorate of Melamchi Water Supply Project and Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited to submit progress report to committee in this regard every 15 days.

The Melamchi project is currently digging trenches and laying pipes for distribution of drinking water, increasing dust pollution in Kathmandu Valley.

The Project Implementation Directorate said it had adopted best practices to prevent pollution. Debris remaining after backfilling and compaction work is a major source of suspended particulate matter in the air.

As a preventive measure, the project is encouraging contractors to lay pipes along busy roads during night time in order to minimise inconvenience to traffic movement.

Due to less movement of the people during night time adverse environmental impact caused due to construction activities is minimised. Use of green net and covering the stored bedding materials during construction prevents dust from becoming airborne.

The committee has also asked the project to sprinkle water twice a day at major stretches and reinstate the roads with bituminous blacktop.