2014-07-08, GIRI BAHADUR SUNAR
There was a time when people used to laugh at Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) during my field visits to Demonstration Project in Baneshwor area under Project Implementation Directorate (PID), Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL). This was observed while disseminating information about project related activities and for the people’s support and active participation in bringing Melamchi water to Kathmandu. It was not their fault in doubting that the project would be successful in doing its task. Now, the doubt is fast disappearing as the project work has speeded up with every indication that it would be ready to deliver water very soon.
For the successful implementation of the Melamchi project it has been divided into two parts, the first part is related to Melamchi Sub Project-1 for 26.5 Km. of tunnel construction work from Ribarma Melamchi Khola in Shindhupalchowk district to Sudarijal of Kathmandu district. So far, about 7.2 Km. of tunnel construction work has been completed. Melamchi Sub Project-2 falls under the Project Implementation Directorate, Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited for Bulk Distribution System (BDS), Service Reservoir Tank (SRT), Distribution Network Improvement (DNI) and household connection. Both projects aim to synchronization to bring Melamchi water to Kathmandu valley.
The main construction work under this system is to construct a diversion tunnel approximately 26.5 Km. long excavated by drill and blast method in order to divert 170 milliliter per day (MLD) of water from the Melamchi River to Sundarijal outlet, where the water will be treated as per the guideline of World Health Organization. The construction of the treatment plant has already been started beside the outlet of Melamchi water tunnel in Sundarijal VDC. Melamchi Sub-Project- 2 aims to lay about 78 kilometers of Bulk Distribution Network in the Ring Road area starting from Sundarijal Nayapati, Gokarna, Baluwa-Suntakhan and Mahankalchaur. Out of 78 km. of BDS construction work, about 6.0 km. of 1400 mm diameter of ductile iron pipe has been installed and the rest of the work is in process. The distribution network improvement is divided into four packages and it includes parts of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts.
Melamchi Sub Project-2 under PID has been established for infrastructure development and augmentation regarding water conveyance, operation and management system of Kathmandu Valley for equitable distribution of water received from Melamchi Water Supply Project and to ensure availability of potable water to all valley citizens. The designed project aims to minimize non-revenue water (NRW) from 74 per cent to about 15 per cent. The project will install district metering tools in each area known as DMA. It will read the total running of water from the main distribution line of DNI and it will match with the reading of household consumption to identify the total flow of water for consumption.
The MWSP is considered to be the most viable long-term alternative to ease the chronic water shortage in the Kathmandu valley, but it has been delayed due to different reason. The main reason for the delay has been the obstacle created by the local people at various sites with far out demands and also because of the changes in the political scene. Apart from that, land acquisition, removing trees from the pipe alignment, coordination among utility organizations like Nepal Telecommunication, Nepal Electricity Authority, Department of Road, traffic and municipalities have been challenging tasks.
Presently, the people of the Kathmandu Valley are being supplied water from various water sources available here. The available water sources are tapped by KUKL and other private agencies. However, the existing water sources are drying up due to the dense population, construction works like houses, roads and global issue like the climate change.
With the high growth of population, and intense construction works, the arrival of Melamchi water will not be sufficient to meet the demands of the valley dwellers. Analyzing the fact, the project aims to give attention to additional water supply sources after the completion of the Melamchi tunnel in the near future from Yangri and Larke rivers which will provide 170 MLD water from each. Apart from drinking water, PID/KUKL is implementing the Kathmandu Valley Urban Environment Improvement Project. The project will work for neighborhood sewer network improvement, expansion of interceptor sewers and Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP). The project is expected to lead to increased efficiencies, greater improvement in service delivery and higher impact on health outcomes and quality of life for the inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley.
Many projects are in the pipeline, and it is possible to accomplish each project on time if the local people and water user groups are supportive toward the project activities. The support and active participation of the local people can give strength to the ongoing projects and for their transparency and assurance of quality. The countdown has begun to realize the dreams of the people of Kathmandu Valley.
