Melamchi Drinking Water Supply to Continue in Kathmandu During Monsoon: Minister Yadav

Minister for Water Supply, Pradip Yadav, has assured that the Melamchi drinking water will continue to be available in Kathmandu even throughout this monsoon season. He made this statement while inspecting a newly installed water tank near the Ribarma River in Sindhupalchowk on Monday.

“For the uninterrupted supply of drinking water to the Kathmandu Valley, we have successfully tested the newly set-up water tank here,” Minister Yadav stated. He explained that the tank was constructed as a precautionary measure under the Melamchi Drinking Water Project to ensure that residents of Kathmandu do not face a shortage of drinking water during the monsoon.

The water tank was built in response to past experiences where floods in the Melamchi River disrupted the water supply during the rainy season. “The government is committed to establishing a sustainable water supply system in the Kathmandu Valley,” he added.

Ratna Prasad Lamichhane, Executive Director and engineer at the Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee, informed that the infrastructure now enables the supply of 50 to 70 million litres of water daily to Kathmandu through the Melamchi tunnel from Ribarma.

“All necessary physical infrastructure is in place. Water from the river will be channeled to the Melamchi tunnel via the new tank, ensuring a consistent water supply to the Valley,” Lamichhane said.

He also mentioned that both the tunnel and the distribution system have been maintained to prevent any possible disruptions.

The devastating Melamchi flood that occurred four years ago caused severe damage not only to the local communities but also to critical infrastructure, including the Melamchi Water Supply Project. Since then, the supply has been interrupted repeatedly, further exacerbating water scarcity in Kathmandu.