Melamchi Drinking Water Projected to be completed by December: Minister Yadav

Constitution Amendment Proposal will get endorsed before third phase election

KATHMANDU, Aug 2: Minister for Water Supply and Sanitation Mahendra Yadav has assured that the Melamchi Drinking Water Project will completed by the end of the year.

Speaking during an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Wednesday, Minister Yadav said, “The Melamchi Drinking Water Project will be completed in Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s tenure. The much- awaited project of the Kathmandu inhabitants will complete by December.”

The drinking water project was due to be completed by Dashin, which falls on September this year.  But, it seems unlikely to be completed in the stipulated time since the tunnel digging from Helambu rural municipality (water source) to Sundarijal processing plant yet to be dug.

The technical challenge such as soft rocks found in digging process is making the process slow. Only 15 to 23 meters tunnel is dug on daily basis at present.

“We will issue a public notice about the problem through ministry in a few days,” said Yadav.

The Minister further said that he had already instructed the authorities concerned to fix the problems related drinking water the Kathmandu dwellers are facing immediately.

He also cleared that the filling works of the pit and potholes on the roads in Kathmandu will also be completed in some days.

On a different note, Minister Yadav also said that the under-discussion constitution amendment proposal will be given conclusion before the third round of local level election scheduled for September 18.

“The government is honestly trying to get the proposal endorsed at the parliament by gathering two-thirds majority in favor,” he said.

“Despite the efforts, if the proposal fails to pass, it will have no effects on the elections. The elections won’t stop,” added Yadav.

“Discussions with political parties including the opposition CPN-UML and the agitating Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) are being carried out. RJPN, itself being a democratic force, should make efforts to protect the achievements of people’s movement,” he added.