Foundation stone laid for second biggest water project in the country; project expected to completed by 2022

Minister for Water Supply Bina Magar laid the foundation stone for the second biggest drinking water project (named Project for Improvement of Water Supply in Pokhara (Kaski) amid a programme at Puranchaur in Pokhara today.

Under the Project funded by the government of Nepal with support of the government of Japan, the first water treatment plant would be constructed in Pokhara. It is estimated to benefit as many as 405,889 population in ward 1 to 19 of Pokhara Municipality.

A bilateral agreement was signed between the government of Nepal and government of Japan on February 15, 2017 according to which the government of Japan provided Nepal with over Rs 4.81 billion for the implementation of the Project. This includes construction of water treatment facilities, distribution pipes and reservoirs among others.

Water from Murdi’s source that lies some 12 kilometres away from Pokhara would be treated at the water treatment facility. Furthermore, three tanks with 2,000 cubic metres capacity will be constructed for storage and distribution of the treated drinking water.

The project is expected to be completed by 2022.

During the foundation stone laying ceremony, Minister Magar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to provide clean drinking water to all as stipulated as fundamental right in the constitution.

Magar described, “The government has been moving forward with action-plan to provide drinking water to all the public. We have prioritized this agenda in the new budget too.
Furthermore, she shared that classification of which drinking water project would be constructed by which government would be determined and close coordination would be made among the federal, provincial and local governments in the sector of drinking water and sanitation.

Stating that construction and expansion of drinking water project were the most important projects of all, the Minister urged the concerned authorities to pay attention towards timely completion of such projects.

On the occasion, Gandaki State Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Ram Sharan Basnet shared that the state government's first decision was to ensure improved water facility to all the households in the state in two years.

He also pledged to support the implementation of the newly inaugurated Project.
Similarly, Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Masamichi Saigo said that the government of Japan was always ready to provide support to the people of Nepal.