“Melamchi issue won’t be resolved until past agreements are implemented”

KATHMANDU: Nima Gyalzen Sherpa, chairperson of Helambu Rural Municipality, where the Melamchi Water Supply Project’s source is located, has said that the problems with the Melamchi water supply to the Kathmandu Valley cannot be resolved until past agreements are implemented.

Sherpa made the remark after Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Kulman Ghising, on Monday, requested his cooperation to remove the obstruction at the Melamchi water source area. Sherpa said the government has failed to fulfill commitments made eight years ago.

“The problem has persisted for eight years. However, the government is showing no concern to resolve them,” Sherpa said. “If those agreements are implemented, we will immediately direct the project office to divert water from the river into the tunnel.”

Sherpa also criticized the municipal governments of the Kathmandu Valley for not taking the issue seriously. “I have been continuously working to help resolve the problem. But the local governments in the capital, which consume Melamchi water, have shown little seriousness in resolving the issue,” he added.

According to Sherpa, the rural municipality has been demanding that the government fulfill several commitments — including payment for land and house rents by the project office, dues owed to suppliers of the former contractor CMC, construction of the road from Melamchi Bazaar to Melamchighyang, and allocation of 25% of the revenue earned by the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Ltd—based on the volume of water diverted from the Melamchi River to Sundarijal—for the development of Helambu Rural Municipality.

Although the government had agreed to these demands in the past, none have been implemented. Last year, then–Water Supply Minister Pradeep Yadav signed a 10-point agreement with the Melamchi Water Supply and Flood Victims Struggle Committee to implement these demands. But nothing was done over the year.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who also oversees the Ministry of Water Supply, on Monday directed officials to take necessary steps to resolve the problem.

Minister Ghising said the shortage of drinking water in the Kathmandu Valley is already becoming apparent and urged all sides to treat the issue with urgency. He said the government was making every effort to resolve the problem and resume water supply to the Valley as soon as possible.