Melamchi Project to Complete at the Beginning of Next Fy 2020/21

8 June, Kathmandu : The government has pledged to complete the much-awaited Melamchi drinking water project at the onset of the next fiscal year, 2020/21. Responding to queries put forth on budget set aside under the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation by members of the House of Representatives today, Minister Bina Magar said construction of physical infrastructure of the project has reached its final stage. Melamchi water distribution to the residents of the Kathmandu Valley will take place at the beginning of the FY, 2020/21, she said.

“A processing centre with capacity of filtering 30.2 million litres of water a day has been established at Guheshwori and its tests are underway. Processing centres at Balkumari, Sallaghari and Dhobighat will be complete soon,” she said.

The ministry expects the drinking water bill tabled at the parliament to be approved from the current session. The government has set a goal of providing basic water facility to 92 percent population by the end of the current FY, 2019/20 and to medium level water facility to 25 percent populace.

Likewise, there is a plan to provide basic water facility to 94 percent people and medium level water facility to 32 percent in the next FY, 2020/21. The ministry has set a plan to complete 102 drinking water projects affected by the earthquake of 2015 in the next FY, 2020/21. Budget worth Rs 5.4 billion has been allocated to begin second phase work of the project for the next FY, 2020/21. Likewise, Rs 5.8 billion has been set aside for the management of water and drainage in the Valley. Budget worth Rs 6 billion has been allocated to operate mega pumping and co-investment drinking water projects across the country.