Kathmandu, Sept 21 : Preparation has begun to devise a new technology to excavate tunnel to bring Yangri and Larke rivulets water to Kathmandu under the second phase of the much-awaited Melamchi Drinking Water Project.   

 
The diversion tunnel was excavated by Drilling, Blasting and Mucking (DBM) technology to divert raw water from Melamchi rivulet to Sundarijal outlet in the first phase.

As this method was more time-consuming with change in contractors, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee have mooted the new technology.   

 
A cost estimation was also made to expedite the excavation work through DBM method to divert water from Yangri and Larke to the valley.

There was a preliminary estimate that it would cost Rs 10 billion for the excavation of around 11-km tunnel through this method.    

Since excavation seems delay while working through the DBM method, the Melamchi Drinking Water Project has made revision in a way to apply a new technology.    

Yangri is nine kilometer away from Ambathan of Helambu rural municipality – the origin of the Melamchi rivulet, while Larke is two kilometer away from Yangri. Both Yangri and Larke rivulets are located in Panhpokhari Thangpal rural municipality of Sindhupalchowk.   

 
Melamchi Project’s Deputy Executive Director Kamal Raj Shrestha told RSS that preparation was in the final stage to work in the tunnel through Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) method.

Machine will be used while excavating tunnel using this method. 

   
The TBM technology was also applied in the construction of Bheri-Babai project.

The project had successfully piloted the technology in Nepal.