Over ninety percent construction work of five large-scale water reservoirs to store water from Melamchi has been completed, according to the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP).

The MWSP is responsible for laying water pipelines and constructing water storage tanks. 

The project, which is considered the most viable long-term alternative to ease the chronic water shortage in Kathmandu Valley, is supposed to supply 170 million litres of water per day from Melamchi in Sindhupalchok to Kathmandu by Dashain festival (September-October).

According to MWSP officials, each reservoir constructed at Mahankal Chaur, Bansbari, Maharajgung, Balaju and Khumaltar can store up to 69 million litres 

of water. 

“Some reservoirs will be ready to store water by next month,” said Lila Prasad Dhakal, spokesperson for the MWSP. 

“We have already completed 73 percent of pipeline laying work,” said Dhakal. 

The total length of pipelines is 670KM and the project has completed laying 492KM pipelines. 

“In Kantipath, Baneshwor, Gaushala, Chabahil and other areas, we are laying pipelines in the night to ensure that traffic movement is not obstructed,” said Dhakal.

Once this ambitious project is completed, over 100,000 taps will have running water for two hours twice a day—morning and evening. 

Dhakal said 85,000 more taps will be added to new households. The Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) has been distributing water to 193,000 households in the Valley.  

To date, 40,000 new households have been connected with new taps, said Dhakal. 

As far as tunnel work is concerned, 22KM stretch 

of 26KM has already been completed.