The government has reached an agreement with the Melamchi Water and Flood Victims Struggle Committee to open the Melamchi water project source.

According to Bishnu Khadka, a member of the committee, Tuesday’s discussion ended in a ten-point agreement covering infrastructure construction, relief, rehabilitation and long-term development.

The agreement was finalised at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport’s hall around 10:30pm, with the participation of Kulman Ghising, minister for energy, water resources and irrigation, representatives from the Department of Roads, Urban Development Ministry, and other stakeholders.

“Following yesterday’s agreement, the source of the Melamchi water supply will be opened from Wednesday,” Khadka said. As per the agreement, a tender process worth Rs25 million will start immediately to blacktop the Melamchi–Ambathan–Melamchi Gyang road section, with Rs100 million secured as the budget.

Earlier, locals had diverted the Melamchi River back to its natural course using excavators at the Ambathan tunnel site, halting the daily supply of 170 million litres of water to Kathmandu Valley.

As per the agreement, a committee led by Sindhupalchok’s chief district officer, including flood-affected representatives and technical staff, will assess damages to houses, land, schools, campuses, canals and bridges and provide relief and compensation within three months.

For the first time, flood-affected families and relatives of the deceased in Melamchi will be given priority for employment at the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) and the Melamchi Development Committee.

Other initiatives include the Melamchi–Helambu Integrated Development Corridor and blacktopping in all seven wards of Helambu next year, among others.

“A high-level committee under the secretary of the Infrastructure Division of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers will monitor, coordinate and implement all works,” local Raj Kumar Bhandari said. The committee will include joint-secretaries from concerned ministries and three representatives from the flood-affected community.

Khadka said that roles, timelines and responsibilities have been clearly defined, though some demands are still pending.