KATHMANDU: The government on Thursday issued a white paper on the long-awaited Melamchi Drinking Water Project claiming that it would bring Melamchi water up to Kathmandu’s Sundarijal for distribution by July this year.

Drinking Water Minister Bina Magar announced on Thursday that tunnel would be brought into operation within the current fiscal year.

Minister Magar today issued a white paper on the project elaborating on the progress made so far and the steps to be taken in the future.

Speaking on the occasion, Executive Director of Melamchi Drinking Water Supply Project Tiresh Prasad Khatri informed that even though it may take some time to complete the dam, the government is making arrangements to bring water up to Sundarijal through an alternative dam by July this year.

“Melamchi water will come by July this year,” he said expressing the hope that the concerned construction company will complete the works two months before the stipulated time.

Khatri claimed that over 96 percent of the physical infrastructure work of the project has been completed.