KATHMANDU: A total of 280 million liters of water– 170 million liters from the Melamchi Drinking Water Supply Project and 110 million liters from local sources – is being distributed in the Kathmandu Valley at present.

According to Minister for Water Supply Mahindra Raya Yadav, works were being undertaken to ensure a smooth supply of water from the Project even in this monsoon.

The government aims to supply Melamchi Project’s water to the Kathmandu Valley’s consumers through a new distribution system from the new fiscal year.

Minister Yadav stated that examining the quality of the water in jars was not under the jurisdiction of his Ministry.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Water Supply does not have jurisdiction over the matter of exporting fresh mountain water through bottles.

To test the drinking water’s quality, a lab would be set up in all drinking water offices in the upcoming fiscal year, said Minister Yadav.

Moreover, an integrated and comprehensive program would be implemented to control the arsenic pollution in the underground water of 22 districts in the Tarai belt as well as in other districts including Kathmandu.

Plans and programs were put in place to provide clean drinking water facilities to at least 90 percent of the population by the end of 2030, according to Minister Yadav.