The Melamchi Drinking Water Project is still in limbo as the concerned bodies have not paid
attention to the reconstruction of the structures that were flooded due to the floods in the last rainy season. Though the government has said that the water of Melamchi will flow into the Kathmandu Valley again within the coming Baishakh, the concerned bodies have not shown any interest in the reconstruction of the flooded structures.
The government has not paid much attention to the operation of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, which became uncertain again due to the floods on Asar 1. The work started to transport 170 million liters of water to Kathmandu daily was not completed and was buried inside Gegran. Although the Helambu village municipality has constructed a temporary road to the dam site and brought it into operation, no other work has started yet. According to Nimagyaljen Sherpa, chairman of the village municipality, the government’s plan to re-pump water to Kathmandu will not be completed within Baishakh.
A 15-meter-high gagran has been piled up at the dam site of the project and the structures built for water control have disappeared inside the bagar. According to Memberchi Municipality Chief Dambar Aryal, there is no basis to believe that the water will reach Kathmandu on time as there is no coordination with the locals affected by the project and no work has been started at the project site.
Due to the floods on Asar 1, the work of Yangri and Larke of the second phase of the Melamchi project is in a state of disrepair. The floods that have blocked the Yangrikhola have washed away the access road to the project site including the concrete bridge and road under construction while the construction materials are in a state of disrepair. According to Gopal Syangwo, chairman of the Yangri, Larke Drinking Water Local Concern Committee, the floods in the Yangri River have caused great damage to the coastal area.
The future of the project is still in doubt after the Melamchi water fell into the Kathmandu
stream 22 years after the project was started with an investment of over Rs. 35 billion.
Although the government has said that it will take the water of Yangri and Larkekhola to
Kathmandu within five years, it is said that there is no basis to believe in the style of work.
Muna Chand
