Kathmandu, Oct 24: The Development Committee of the Legislature-Parliament has directed the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation to complete the Melamchi Water Supply Project within a year.

A meeting of the Committee today asked the Ministry to take all possible measures–even work at odd hours and work on a schedule to complete the project by mid-October, 2017. The Ministry has been asked to systematise the construction of a tunnel of the project.

The construction of the project had begun in 2000 AD with the aim of bringing in water from the Sindhupalchowk-based Melamchi Stream to the capital by 2007 and distribute to the Valley people, but the deadline was delayed twice. The completion of the project within the third deadline set for 2016 is now certain to remain unmet, Committee President Rabindra Adhikari said.

At the meeting, lawmaker Ganesh Pahadi said the ongoing laying of project pipelines in the capital has put roadways here in a mess.

In response, Ministry Secretary Sanjay Sharma said the Ministry was regularly monitoring the progress on project implementation and was committed to completing it as soon as possible.

Project executive director Ghanashyam Bhattarai apprised the meeting that last year’s earthquake and border blockade hampered the construction of the project tunnel.

The tenure of the project developer has been extended by six months beginning from October 2, he said.

Project Implementation Directorate Director Tiresh Prasad Khatri said the works relating to pipelines installation in the Kathmandy Valley were going well. RSS