Melamchi water to be supplied regularly in Kathmandu during monsoon

SINDHUPALCHOWK: Minister for Drinking Water Pradeep Yadav has said that Melamchi water will be supplied regularly to households in Kathmandu throughout this year’s rainy season.

Speaking after an on-site inspection of the drinking water intake tank constructed on the Ribarma River in Melamchi on Monday, Minister Yadav assured that clean drinking water will be continuously distributed to Kathmandu residents even during the monsoon.

He stated, “The intake tank built on the Ribarma River for supplying water to Kathmandu has been successfully tested. Considering the potential risks associated with the monsoon, we have made alternative arrangements to channel water to Kathmandu through the Melamchi tunnel.”

Minister Yadav explained that this alternative source will ensure uninterrupted supply to the Kathmandu Valley.

“This system is expected to provide a sustainable solution to the valley’s drinking water problems. In the coming days, residents of Kathmandu will not have to endure water shortages during the rainy season. We are addressing the issue with a clear understanding of the people’s needs,” he added.

With the successful testing of river water, the long-standing pattern of Melamchi supply disruptions during the rainy season is expected to end.

Executive Director and engineer of the Melamchi Water Supply Development Committee, Ratna Prasad Lamichhane, confirmed after the inspection that there is now the capacity to divert 50 to 70 million liters of water daily from the river through the existing Melamchi tunnel.

Lamichhane emphasized that, considering past experiences when the Melamchi tunnel was damaged or closed due to rain and flooding, special attention has been given this year to technical preparedness and risk mitigation.

Technicians, security personnel, and supply teams are currently deployed around the clock, with strengthened maintenance and safety measures in place for the tunnel and distribution systems.

These precautions come in light of the damage inflicted on the Melamchi source by the devastating floods of 2078 B.S., which had previously disrupted regular water supply during the rainy season.