Kathmandu, December 22:

The issue of the Melamchi Water Supply Project is likely to ignite a new debate with a group of experts proposing a modification in the ongoing project to make it at least six times bigger in terms of water supply and generate at least 225 MW of electricity.

A group of water experts has proposed a modification in the $500 million project to make it six times bigger in terms of water supply and to include extra components like hydropower and irrigation in it.

The ambitious proposal is going to be presented to the Natural Resource Committee of the parliament on Monday. “We are going to brief the lawmakers on the new version of project,” said Bhushan Tuladhar, the ED of Environment and Public Health Organisation.

He said that the modification was necessary because the current infrastructure of the project will be insufficient to meet the demands of the Valley when the project is completed.

“Instead of completing the project as per the original plan and start looking for another source of water supply by the time the project gets completed, it should be modified in a way that it could serve the Valley for several decades to come and include additional components like electricity generation and irrigation to the project,” he said.

According to the plan proposed by the experts, water from two other rivers would be added to the water from Melamchi River and used for electricity generation before it reaches Kathmandu. If the water becomes surplus, it would be used for irrigation in the Tarai. Tuladhar said a detail study is needed in this regard, but the government’s positive attitude is needed first before going for such a study. “Without the government’s support, the new proposal won’t move forward, as it demands modification in the ongoing project. Further, the modification will also be a matter of concern for donors,” he said.