The Melamchi Water Supply Project says it will stop supplying water from Melamchi of Sindhupalchok to the Kathmandu valley from mid-June to mid-August.

The ambitious project had begun delivering water in Kathmandu from March 28 whereas President Bidya Devi Bhandari had officially inaugurated it on April 2. However, stakeholders had pointed out that the government did not do all required tests before launching water distribution in its bid to show progress.

Now, by halting the supply for two weeks, the project is preparing to conduct every required test, it has been learned.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari launches the distribution of Melamchi water in Kathmandu, on Friday, April 2, 2021. Photo: Aryan Dhimal

“If there is not any problem in the tunnel, we will complete its inspection in 15 days. Then, it will take 15 more days to fill water in the tunnel,” the project’s spokesperson Rajendra Panta says, “But if there are any problems, correcting them will take more time.”

He adds post-mid-June, Kathmanduites shall expect the Melamchi water to come again after mid-August only.