The much-anticipated Melamchi water supply resumed on Tuesday, bringing relief to the residents of Kathmandu Valley. Minister for Water Supply Pradeep Yadav officially reopened the water distribution from the Melamchi Water Treatment Centre at Sundarijal, Kathmandu.

The Melamchi Water Supply Development Committee announced that the water has been channelled to various distribution branches of Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), from where it will be supplied to consumers.

“After prolonged discussions between the Minister of Water Supply, government officials, and the Melamchi Struggle Committee, we have reached an agreement, and the water has been diverted from Sundarijal to the Valley,” said Ratna Prasad Lamichhane, executive director of KUKL.

Melamchi typically supplies 170 million litres of water daily to the Valley. However, the supply was halted on June 24 due to the monsoon season. “Kathmandu’s daily water demand is around 470 million litres,” Lamichhane explained, adding that KUKL had been distributing approximately 160 million litres from alternative sources during the shutdown.

The disruption followed the severe flooding in June 2021, which damaged the Melamchi source area, limiting consistent water distribution to the Valley. Plans are underway to relocate the intake 800 metres upstream to Sarkathali, ensuring a more stable year-round supply.

In the second and third phases of the project, an additional 170 million litres each from the Yangri and Larke rivers are planned, with the goal of eventually providing 510 million litres of water daily to Kathmandu.

Despite these ambitious targets, construction on these phases has not yet commenced.

To accommodate the increased water supply, an extensive new pipeline network, spanning 1,700 kilometres across the Valley, has already been laid. Approximately 700 kilometres of the 760-kilometre pipeline in key areas such as Swayambhu, Tahachal, Baluwatar, Bishalnagar, Panipokhari, Mandikhatar and Chabahil have been completed.

The Melamchi sub-project aims to complete the remaining pipeline and begin water distribution through the new network by mid-January. “We are on track to ensure that the Valley’s residents have a reliable water supply once all phases are completed,” Lamichhane said.