Phidim, January 12

The consumers’ committee has banned the use of pipes in Tamor Lift Drinking Water Project after the constructing company was found to have used substandard pipes in Kummayak Rural Municipality in Panchthar.

The company has laid down 63mm pipes from the water source to its dam and stored another 2,165 metres long pipe of the same thickness for use.

Secretary Debendra Kumar Lawati at Tamor Lift Committee said the pipes could  not withstand the force of the water and therefore it might crack open.

He added that the committee would allow the work only after getting quality assurance.

Chief at Drinking Water and Sanitation Subdivision Office, Panchthar Surat Lal Chaudhary said  that the pipe being used in the project was substandard.

Prera Swami Narayan JV Construction Company is the constructing company.  The company representative, Santosh Basnet, however, claimed that the pipes were procured as per the technical estimation.

With the cost of Rs 51.3 crore, the project is the country’s second largest drinking water project only after the Melamchi Drinking Water Supply Project. The project started on December 31, 2015, with the original project deadline expiring on December 31, 2017.