Kathmandu, May 21:

Members of Parliament today urged Minister for Physical Planning and Works Hisila Yami not to lose the Melamchi Drinking Water Project at any cost.

During a discussion in the parliamentary Finance Committee, the MPs said Nepalis will suffer and they cannot wait for 10 more years for another project to take shape. “We do not care who is involved in the project and how, but it should not effect people’s right to have drinking water,” UML MP Dr Dilli Raj Khanal said.

NC-D MPs Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat and NP Saud also urged the government not to take any decision on the project “out of emotion.” Nepali Congress MP Suresh Malla said that if the project suffers, the Nepali people will have to wait for another 10 years to get such a huge water project.

Replying to queries of the MPs, Yami said there is no need to follow all directions of the ADB although it is a reputed institution. “The Severn Trent has a bad working record,” Yami said. “I don’t understand why the ADB is supporting the company when it is aware of this fact,” she said, while stressing the need of involvement of Nepalis in management of water distribution system.