Expressing concern over the pipelines damaged due to the ongoing road expansion drive, the Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation (MoWSS) has sought Rs 310 million to repair them.

The ministry has also warned that water supply could be affected badly in the Capital if the sought amount is not released pronto.

Bhim Prasad Upadhyaya, secretary at the MoWSS, said 55 percent of underground pipelines have been damaged due to digging as part of the road expansion drive.

“We need Rs 310 million to repair the broken pipes and rearrange the distribution system,” said Upadhyaya at a meeting of the Development Committee of Parliament on Friday. According to Upadhyaya, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, Nepal Telecom among others are responsible for the damaged pipelines as “there is lack of coordination among these agencies”.

Parliament panel tells govt agencies to fix Valley roads

KATHMANDU: The Development Committee of Legislature Parliament has directed various government agencies and ministries to repair the roads in Kathmandu that are being dug to lay the pipeline for Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP).

A meeting of the committee on Friday directed the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Physical  Infrastructure and Transport, Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, Department

of Road, Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), Lalitpur Sub-metropolitan City, and Melamchi Water Supply Project to  repair the roads. 

The committee also directed the MWSP to put more workers to the job of installing pipeline during the night and to make sure the traffic is not obstructed during day time.

The Parliament committee also instructed the KMC to buy a street sweeper to clean the road inside the Kathmandu Valley. (PR)