Melamchi water distribution from Friday

KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Upatyakya Khanepani Ltd (KUKL) is distributing water diverted from Melamchi River of Sindhupalchowk to consumers of Kathmandu Valley starting Friday.

The Melamchi Water Supply Development Board started diverting water from the Melamchi River to the tunnel about two weeks ago. The water arrived at the Sundarijal-based treatment center in nine days.

KUKL will initially start distribution from the Mahankalchaur-based reservoir. “We have already started filling the reservoir. Distribution will begin from this reservoir tomorrow,” KUKL Spokesperson Prakash Kumar Rai said. “After releasing the water into the distribution system, our technicians will look for leakages. Then we will start distribution as per the capacity of the Melamchi project.”

The Melamchi project has a total distribution capacity of 170 million liters per day.

The board had closed the 26-kilometer tunnel in June to prevent floodwaters from flowing into the tunnel.

Melamchi water was first diverted into the tunnel in February 2021. However, the Melamchi floods in the monsoon of the same year washed away the headworks at the project site. Though the headworks have been rehabilitated, officials shut the tunnel in this year’s monsoon to prevent possible damage to the project infrastructure.