By Modnath Dhakal
Kathmandu, Mar. 29: The water from the Melamchi River in Sindhupalchok district finally fell into the water pots of Kathmanduites on Sunday.
Approximately after 19 years since the beginning of the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP), water flowed from about 512 taps in the Anamnagar area at 2:00 PM.
“The water is distributed in Mahankal, Minbhawan and Anamnagar of Kathmandu and Khumaltar of Lalitpur area through the Kathmandu Upatakya Khanepani Limited (KUKL)’s distribution network in the first phase,” said Tiresh Prasad Khatri, Executive Director of the Melamchi Water Supply Development Board.
About 45 million litres of water was sent to the reservoirs in the Kathmandu Valley on the first day. The amount of water to be distributed would be increased to 60 million litres a day on Monday and 85 million litres on Tuesday, said Khatri.
The project had started to fill the reservoirs since Sunday morning. From Tuesday, all reservoirs of KUKL will be filled up with Melamchi water. Currently, the project is operating one of the two Water Treatment Plants at Sundarijal. Each plant has 8.5 million litres capacity.
According to Khatri, the next plant is ready for the testing, and the developer is in the process to demonstrate its testing. The ponds at the plant will be filled up for seven days before sending water from it to the bulk distribution system that takes it to 10 reservoirs at different locations in the Valley.
“Testing, flushing and cleaning of the plant might need about two weeks. However, the works could be affected due to the absence of electricity, hence another 8.5 million litres water would be distributed within three weeks maximum,” said Khatri.
Before sending water to the households, the newly installed pipelines should be flushed and cleaned. The project stated that it might take about seven months to take water to every corner of the distribution.
However, water from the Melamchi River would only be distributed through the supply network of the KUKL which means the areas that have separate water supply projects would not be benefitted now.
The remaining networks could be connected with the KUKL’s central network only when water from Yangri and Larke rivers is brought to the Valley.
The second phase of the MWSP, which is yet to begin, would bring another 340 million litres water a day, 170 MLD from each river, to Kathmandu.
The first phase of the MWSP was supposed to be completed in 2008 but it went through multiple deadline extension and cost overrun. It was affected by the bureaucratic process, Maoist rebellion, 2015 earthquake, Indian blockade and, recently, fleeing of the Italian contractor company CMC.
Melamchi is the first national pride project to be completed. Some construction at the head works still remains although water reached the valley.