JUMLA: Minister for Water Supply Umakanta Chaudhary has laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Dhauligad drinking water project in Jumla district amid a function in Jumla Saturday.

The project in the government’s priority has already been initiated and it would be completed in time, the Minister offered hope.

The 1.26 billion project is expected to benefit the total 44,163 households from Guthichaur, Chandannath Municipality and Tatopani Rural Municipality, said Surya Raj Kandel, director general at the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management.

The pipeline can handle 55 liters waters per second from the water source, 15 kilometers away from the district headquarters, Khalanga, said the Ministry Secretary Suresh Acharya.

The project is expected to provide a huge respite to local people, who have been deprived of drinking water for long, said former Minister of Karnali Province Naresh Bhandari.