Melamchi Project Aims for Completion within Two Years

Kathmandu. Executive Director of Melamchi Water Supply Development Committee, Laxmi Prasad Upadhyay, has stated that the work for the permanent solution of the Melamchi Water Supply Project is targeted to be completed within the next two years. He said this while briefing on the current status and future plans of the project during a meeting of the Infrastructure Development Committee under the House of Representatives. According to Executive Director Upadhyay, the permanent design of the headworks will be ready by next August. A massive flood and debris on Bhadra 1, 2078 BS in Bhemathang, above the Melamchi river's source, had caused significant damage to the permanent headworks. Since that disaster, water has been temporarily distributed through an alternative diversion tunnel. Director Upadhyay clarified that water supply was stopped from Asar 19th to prevent debris from entering the tunnel and for its safety, as the monsoon has started. He stated that water supply will resume as soon as the weather clears and the water level in the river subsides. During the meeting, Director Upadhyay also provided information about the legal and administrative hurdles faced by the project. Currently, 28 cases related to the Melamchi project are sub-judice in court, two of which are in the Singapore International Arbitration Court. He mentioned that approximately 320 million rupees have been spent on legal processes so far to resolve the dispute with the Italian contractor company CMC. The instability in leadership at the project has also emerged as another challenge. Informing that four executive directors have been changed within a year, he said this has affected the long-term decision-making process. However, he shared his experience that the work environment is becoming easier due to the positive cooperation from the current minister and ministry. He told the meeting, 'We are currently in the design review phase, for which we have taken the help of Canadian consultants and experts from Pulchowk Campus. Our goal is to complete the construction of the headworks by Asar 2086, after signing the contract by the end of Asar of the current fiscal year.' Mentioning that the government is making efforts to create an environment where work is not obstructed, he added, 'The government is making efforts to create an environment where work is not obstructed by taking responsibility for the vendors' payments.' He stated that the ministry is seriously working on the issue of pending payments to local suppliers (vendors) after the contractor company CMC left. Studies are also underway to bring additional water from Yangri and Larke rivers along with Melamchi. The project has stated that the consultant will submit its detailed report within two years, after which the loan agreement process with ADB will be advanced.