KAVREPALANCHOWK: The Dhulikhel Drinking Water Project, a major water supply system serving Dhulikhel, has been reconstructed following extensive damage caused by the floods and landslides of Asoj 2081 BS.
The disaster severely damaged physical infrastructure and pipelines in the Saptakanya source area of Panauti Municipality-12. The flooding also swept away around 150 metres of the main pipeline in the Kharkhola source area, disrupting drinking water services in Dhulikhel for nearly three months.
Acting Mayor of Dhulikhel Municipality Nirajan Jangam said the reconstruction was completed with support from the German development agency GIZ and local stakeholders. According to him, the project was rebuilt through a cost-sharing arrangement, with 60 percent of the funding provided as assistance and the remaining 40 percent contributed locally.
Krishna Bhushan Khoju, chairperson of the consumer committee, said the reconstruction was completed at a total cost of Rs 35.1 million. Reconstruction work began on Jestha 20 last year and has now been successfully completed.
He said the project received a grant of Rs 14.5 million from the German government under a bilateral support agreement. Germany had originally assisted in the construction of the drinking water project in 1992.
Following the flood damage, Dhulikhel Municipality had sought support from the German Embassy for rehabilitation of the project. The assistance was used to rebuild the intake system, pipelines, and other damaged infrastructure.
The disaster had affected drinking water services for around 3,600 households in Wards 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 of Dhulikhel Municipality. During the disruption, temporary water supply arrangements were made at a cost of approximately Rs 2 million to ensure residents continued to receive essential drinking water services.
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