Melamchi water not to be distributed for one month

As inspection job of the tunnel is ongoing, distribution of water from the Melamchi Drinking Water Project in the valley is unlikely to happen for a month now. Currently, entire tunnel of the project is being emptied for the inspection.

Information Officer of Melamchi Drinking Development Committee Rajendra Prasad Panta said that it could take some 30 to 40 days to bring water to the valley if problems are not detected during tunnel inspection.

Panta stated that it would take almost 10 days to inspect the 27-km-long tunnel.

In the contract signed with the Chinese company Sino Hydro some two years ago, an agreement had been made for emptying the tunnel for observation after once filling it.

"As stated in the procedure, the final task is to empty the tunnel. The project will be deemed successful after refilling it as it means no problems were detected while emptying the tunnel," he added.

For the first time, water from the Melamchi Project was brought in the Kathmandu valley around three months ago. So far no problem has been detected, officials said.

According to the project, the construction of the headwork of the project is in the final stage while construction of tunnel and other works have already been completed.

The Himalayan Times