By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan. 31: Minster for Water Supply and Sanitation, Umakant Chaudhary has said that the work for the reconstruction of the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) has begun to bring the water from the Melamchi River temporarily to the Kathmandu Valley.

The national pride project’s head works and a part of tunnel were damaged by the floods caused by torrential rains on 15 June, 2021.
Contractor Sino Hydro has reached the site and started work to clear the debris deposited by the floods and landslide upstream of the river.

“Currently, work has begun to bring the water to the capital valley by creating a diversion besides the head works,” Minister Chaudhary said at a press conference organised at the Ministry in Singha Durbar on Sunday.
He informed that the short run test of about 100 kilometre pipeline was conducted some days ago. So far, 350 km pipeline is tested and is ready for water distribution.

According to him, since Sindhupalchowk was announced as a crisis-hit area until October 2021, no work on the project could be conducted before the festive season.
“The Asian Development Bank is conducting a study on the details of the reasons behind the floods and landslides, damage caused by them and permanent alternatives to conserve the watershed region,” said Minister Chaudhary.

Earlier on Friday, the contractor was mobilised to the site after more than seven months the floods damaged the intake of the project.
The project has said that water would be brought to the valley
by 14 April 2022, the first day of Nepali Year 2079.