Tunnel test to send Melamchi water to Kathmandu

Kathmandu. A tunnel is being tested from today to bring the much awaited Melamchi River water to Kathmandu. The water is being tested by diverting water in the tunnel section from Melamchi River to Sundarijal. Melamchi water will come to Kathmandu after the test is successful in three stages.

It takes at least two months to test the tunnel. According to the Ministry of Water Supply, Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee official and Minister for Water Supply Manichandra Thapa is scheduled to visit Melamchi today to inspect the water diversion. On the occasion, Minister Thapa is scheduled to inspect the progress of the overall project.

It has been decided to send water to the tunnel from 11:00 pm today. After the connection and finishing of the tunnel gate at Melamchi was completed, the water was monitored by a technical team before being diverted. The project was delayed by about two months after the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the main donor of the project, suggested that more work should be done after monitoring by experts.

It seems that Melamchi water will take at least two more months to reach Kathmandu. According to the Melamchi Drinking Water Committee, the road will be diverted in three phases. In the first phase, water will be sent to the tunnel and held. The water will be diverted out of the tunnel. Water will be brought to Sundarijal after three phases.