Honorable Minister for Water Supply, Abdul Khan today visited the office of Project Implementation Directorate (PID) to update on the current progress in drinking water supply and wastewater management projects and guide PID officials for future projects. Er. Maniram Gelal, secretary, Ministry of Water Supply had accompanied honorable minister.

During the visit, honorable minister appreciated PID’s role in developing necessary infrastructure to distribute drinking water to the public and urged PID to consistently maintain public trust.

He said, “Drinking water is a basic right of public so it should be distributed to people within ring road and outside simultaneously in an equitable manner,” adding, “Ministry is all set to provide necessary support to PID to ensure people’s right.”

He also sought the need of inter-ministry coordination while executing infrastructure development works in various areas. “Coordination and Cooperation between ministries should be of special focus because timely inter-ministry coordination would enable favorable working environment in all construction sites.” he stressed, referring to current complaints such as Melamchi Project’s damaging roads inside the valley and Nepal Telecom and Nepal Electricity Authority damaging PID’s or KUKL’s utilities due to lack of coordination. He reiterated Ministry’s support to execute PID’s work.

Secretary Gelal said there was enough storage of water in Kathmandu Valley but it’s equitable distribution to Kathmandu residents within Ringroad and outside Ringroad was a major challenge. He said, “170 million liters of drinking water is available at present. PID’s first target is its distribution within Ringroad but people outside Ringroad are also looking forward for water supply. However, enough infrastructure is yet to be developed for equitable water distribution.” He assured financial support to PID for development of infrastructure in the coming days.

He further said that many utilities of different ministries are being damaged due to construction works of various agencies in the Kathmandu Valley, citing the need of Utility Act to work properly by coordinating with all concerned stakeholders.

He also stated that due to termination of contracts of some wastewater management project, financial burden of PID has risen therefore ministry was discussing with the Finance Ministry for additional budget to accomplish the remaining works.

He applauded PID’s response in implementing infrastructure development projects despite adverse working environment.

During the program, Project Director, Er. Rajendra Sapkota briefed honorable minister Khan and secretary Gelal about the current status of the ongoing projects and its challenges as well as projects in pipeline. He said that PID was working on multiple aspects of translating people’s right to safe drinking water.

He said that PID has completed 77 km pipeline of Bulk Distribution System and ten service reservoir tanks with total storage capacity of 74,000 m3 at nine different locations. He further said more than 1010 km of pipe laying has been completed in the first phase and 550 km of Distribution Network Improvement has been tested and the office was planning to complete remaining testing within this fiscal year.

He informed that PID recently handed over some of its assets such as BDS pipelines and water reservoir tanks at different locations in the Kathmandu Valley to Kathmandu Valley Drinking Water Board for further operation. During the program, Deputy Project Director, Project Manager, senior officials, Team Leaders and other staffs of PID were present.

KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Upatayaka Khanepaani Limited- Project Implementation Directorate (KUKL-PID) in coordination with Shree Ratna Rajya Higher Secondary School organized an inter-school speech competition titled ‘Management of drinking water and environmental protection’ on 13th December, 2022.

Anubhab Acharya from Bageshwori Secondary School bagged first prize, Shristi Gautam from Shree Ratna Rajya Secondary School bagged second prize and Aakriti Kumari Mahaseth from Shree Viswa Niketan Secondary School bagged third prize in the competition. Awardees received gift hampers and certificates. Similarly, Srijana Praja from Shree Araniko Secondary School and Rehan Tiwari from Shree Shivapuri Secondary School got consolation prizes. A total of 25 students from 13 public schools in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur district participated in the program.

KUKL-PID handed over a token of love to all participating schools and certificates to all the participants.

Community Awareness and Social Safeguard Consultants (CASSC) under KUKL-PID has been organizing school programs especially in public schools inside Kathmandu Valley aligning with project areas to aware public about the importance of water, health and sanitation. School program aims to prepare students as agents of change to aware their families and neighbors about the importance of drinking water supply, wastewater management, Melamchi Khanepaani Project and its benefits to Kathmandu denizens.

During the program, Chandra Bhakta Bista, Team Leader, CASSC highlighted on the objectives of the speech competition. He said, “Such programs enable children express their learnings about importance of water management and environmental protection,” adding, “It is also an opportunity for teachers and all other present in the hall to learn from the children on this burning issue.”

He also shared that Kathmandu valley lacks sufficient drinking water and the Melamchi Khanepaani Project is in its mission to fulfill current demand of drinking water within the valley. “Our project won’t be able to fulfil the need of Kathmandu if people fail to utilize water in right way,” he added.

Vidhya Bhandari, sociologist, PID urged all concerned to support Melamchi Project. Highlighting on the wastewater management and drinking water supply activities of KUKL-PID, she said that proper management of water is the need of the hour and everyone should be sensitive and act responsibly to accomplish project’s mission. She said, “Water conservation is environment protection,” she added, pleading all to take appropriate steps towards it.

During the program, the participants echoed, “water is life and there is no substitute for water”. They further said that rather than blaming government and other agencies for scarcity of water, a responsible citizen should start changing activities and actions from oneself for proper water management and environmental protection.

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KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Upatayaka Khanepani Limited- Project Implementation Directorate (KUKL-PID) organized a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) orientation program with an objective to highlight on GESI and its mainstreaming in various development projects for better understanding and outcomes.

Addressing the program, Safeguard Unit Chief of KUKL-PID, Laxmi Pant expressed her joy for organizing program on such relevant issues for the stakeholders who deals directly with the service seekers.

Stating that PID was always motivated to incorporate GESI in its programs, projects and structure, Pant said, “Mainstreaming GESI is a gradual process.  It should be the concern of everybody especially government, not just the development partners.”

Speaking at the program, Subechha Khadka, GESI Consultant, Asian Development Bank (ADB), highlighted on conceptual clarity of GESI, socialization of gender and inclusion, and GESI in ADB projects especially ADB policy and strategy for GESI along with mainstreaming guidelines. Khadka said that gender is a socio-cultural construct where men are regarded as breadwinner and decision makers of a house or a society while women tend to be gentle and quiet. “The way of our socialization shapes our behavior and nature which is reflected in the workplaces too,” she said adding, “Different gender roles designated by society determines distinctive division of labour between men and women, provides different access and control over resources as well as decision making power.”

She further said that people from minority groups and disadvantaged people are excluded in multiple sectors. “This is a cross-cutting issue therefore it should be brought into limelight to provide equal opportunity and access to all Nepalese,” she added.

She urged service providers such as KUKL to consider GESI during their service delivery.

Kamal Adhikari, Senior sociologist from Ministry of Urban Development stated that gender discrimination is self-originated therefore there was a need to change oneself for the change in the society.

Adhikari said that gender was synonymous to women for the public hence he suggested for conceptual departure on this notion. “Either we are gender blind or gender neutral. Meanwhile, the need of the hour is gender responsiveness,” he stressed.

He mentioned three important pillars of GESI mainstreaming; access to resources, access to information and access to decision. “Activation of agency, an internal urge to be a change maker, is a must for women’s empowerment,” he added.

Sociologist of KUKL-PID, Vidya Bhandari said that the program was organized on the occasion of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to highlight on various elements of GESI to its officials.

During the program she shared about GESI implementation in PID. She said that PID was much conscious on GESI therefore it is successful to meet the GESI target set by ADB. She also stated that KUKL and PID should be working together on GESI but KUKL is lagging behind.  She further said that KUKL lacked a GESI unit and urged the officials to proactively handle this issue.

Similarly, other speakers also highlighted on the need to mainstream GESI in plans and policies for effective implementation.  During the program, a video was shared demonstrating issues such as GBV, superstition, women’s right, legal provisions among others. The program was held on 1st December, 2022. Around 70 participants from PID and KUKL had participated in the program.

KUKL-PID today organized an intra-school art competition titled ‘Clean Water, Healthy Life’ at Managalbazar-based Adarsha Kanya Niketan Secondary School.

The competition was organized among the girl students with an objective to sensitize them as agents of change in the Water and Sanitation Hygiene sector through awareness raising programs. The competition also aims to support to their overall personality development by providing them platform to demonstrate their skills and talents. Furthermore, through the art competition, KUKL-PID aims to disseminate information and messages about the importance of clean drinking water in life as well as the current status of implementation of Melamchi Project in Kathmandu Valley.

A panel of judges from the school and KUKL-PID selected the winners of the intra-school art competition. Kabita Ghising from grade 10 secured first position, Jibee Darnal from grade 7 secured second position and Manjila Balami secured third position. Similarly, other participants received consolation prizes. A total of 10 students from grade 6 to 10 had participated in the competition.

Pramila Adhikari, sociologist, KUKL-PID and Sailesh Bahadur Pradhan, Principal, Adarsha Kanya Niketan Secondary School handed over prizes to the winners and certificate of participation to all participants. Adhikari, on behalf of KUKL-PID handed over letter of appreciation to Pradhan for his support.

बालुवाटार ढल तथा वर्षातको पानी व्यवस्थापन कार्यको शिलान्यास कार्यक्रमका प्रमुख अतिथि तथा माननीय खानेपानी मन्त्री उमाकान्त चौधरीज्यूबाट सु-सम्पन्न भयो साथै उक्त कार्यक्रमका सभापति खानेपानी मन्त्रालयका सचिव सुरेश आचार्यज्यू, खानेपानी मन्त्रालयका सह-सचिव मीना श्रेष्ठज्यू, तिरेश प्रसाद खत्रीज्यू र खानेपानी विभागका महानिर्देशक सुर्यराज कँडेलज्यू, आयोजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालयका आयोजना निर्देशक राजेन्द्र सापकोटाज्यू, महानगरपालिका वडा नं. २ का वडा अध्यक्ष राजेन्द्रकुमार श्रेष्ठज्यू लगायत काठमाण्डौ उपत्यका खानेपानी व्यवस्थापन वोर्डका प्रतिनिधिज्यू काठमाण्डौ उपत्यका खानेपानी लिमिटेडका प्रतिनिधिज्यू, यस निर्देशनालयका सम्पूर्ण कर्मचारिहरु तथा निर्माण व्यवसायी उपस्थित भई यस कार्यक्रमको सोभा बढाईदिनु भएकोमा उपस्थित सबैमा आयोजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालय परिवार आभार प्रकट गर्दै धन्यवाद व्यक्त गर्दछौ ।

एशियालि विकास बैकका पदाधिकारिज्यूहरूबाट गुहेश्वरि स्थित फाेहाेर पानी प्रशाेधन केन्द्रकाे अवलाेकन

सम्माननीय राष्ट्रपतिज्यूद्वारा मेलम्ची खानेपानी वितरणको समुद्घाटन सम्माननीय राष्ट्रपति विद्या देवी भण्डारीज्यूले कलात्मक झाँकीयुक्त उल्लासमय कार्यक्रमका बिच मेलम्ची आयोजनाको प्रथम चरण अन्तर्गत प्राप्त खानेपानी वितरण कार्यको समुद्घाटन गर्नुभयो । कार्यक्रमका प्रमुख अतिथि राष्ट्रपति भण्डारीले नेपाली कलात्मक धारो खोली मेलम्ची खानेपानी आपूर्तिको शुभारंभ गर्नुभएको थियो । भृकुटी मण्डपमा आयोजित उक्त समारोहमा सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री के पी शर्मा ओली, संविधान सभाका अध्यक्ष, नेपाल सरकारका माननीय उपप्रधानमन्त्री तथा मन्त्रीहरू, मुख्य सचिव, खानेपानी मन्त्रालयका सचिव, एशियाली विकास बैंक, जाइका लगायतका दातृ निकायका प्रतिनिधिहरू, विदेशी कूटनीतिक नियोगका प्रतिनिधिहरू, काठमाण्डौ, ललितपुर महानगरपालिका तथा भक्तपुर नगरपालिकाका मेयरहरू, राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोगका उपाध्यक्ष, प्रधानमन्त्रीका प्रमुख सल्लाहकार, मेलम्ची आयोजनासँग सम्बद्ध पदाधिकारीहरू तथा अवकाशप्राप्त अधिकारीहरू, माननीय सांसदहरू लगायतका विशिष्ट व्यक्तित्वहरूको उपस्थिति रहेको थियो । कार्यक्रमलाई संबोधन गर्नुहुँदै राष्ट्रपति भण्डारीले राष्ट्रिय गौरवको मेलम्ची आयोजनाको प्रथम चरण सम्पन्नप्रायः अवस्थामा पुगी खानेपानी आपूर्ति पनि शुरू भएकोमा प्रसन्नता व्यक्त गर्नुभयो । राष्ट्रपति भण्डारीले आयोजनाको परिकल्पना तथा आयोजनासफल पार्न आआफ्नो स्थानबाट भूमिका खेल्नुभएका पूर्व प्रधानमन्त्री कृष्ण प्रसाद भट्टराइ लगायतका राजनीतिज्ञहरू, कर्मचारीहरू लगायतका व्यक्तित्वहरूको योगदानको स्मरण गर्नुभयो । उहाँले आयोजना सफल पार्नमा मेलम्ची क्षेत्रका बासिन्दाहरूको योगदानको उच्च मूल्यांकन गर्नुभयो । सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री तथा कार्यक्रमका विशेष अतिथि के पी शर्मा ओलीले सरकारले कोरोनाभाइरस महामारीका बिच पनि मेलम्ची आयोजना (प्रथम चरण) लगायतका विभिन्न विकास आयोजनाहरूको निर्माण सम्पन्न गर्न सक्षम भएको उल्लेख गर्नुभयो । मेलम्ची आयोजनाको प्रथम चरणको निर्माणले उपत्यकाबासी लगायत सबै नेपालीमा खुशी छाएको उल्लेख गर्नुभयो । प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीले आयोजनाको दोस्रो चरणको कार्यान्वयन अर्थात यांग्री र लार्के खोलाको पानी उपत्यकामा पथान्तरण तथा वितरण गर्नका लागि आवश्यक संरचनाहरूको निर्माण सम्पन्न भइसकेकोले अब यांग्री र लार्केको पानी मेलम्ची सुरूङ सम्म ल्याउने कार्य मात्र बाँकी रहेको उल्लेख गर्नुभयो । उहाँले आयोजनाको दोस्रो चरणको निर्माण कार्य निर्धारित समयमै सम्पन्न गर्न आयोजना कार्यान्वयनकर्ता निकायहरूलाई निर्देशन दिनुभयो । उक्त अवसरमा अस्वस्थताका कारण कार्यक्रममा उपस्थित हुन नसक्नुभएका माननीय खानेपानी मन्त्री मणिचन्द्र थापाको भिडियो सन्देश प्रसारण गरिएको थियो । खानेपानी मन्त्री थापाले मेलम्ची आयोजनाको दोस्रो चरणको निर्माणप्रति मन्त्रालय प्रतिबद्ध रहेको उल्लेख गर्नुभयो । उहाँले मेलम्चीको खानेपानी वितरणसँगै अब मेलम्चीको खानेपानी नपुगिसकेका स्थानहरूमा पनि खानेपानी सेवामा सुधार गर्दै लगिने योजना रहेको बताउनुभयो । कार्यक्रमलाई संबोधन गर्नुहुँदै काठमाण्डौ महानगरपालिकाका मेयर विद्या सुन्दर शाक्यले आफूले प्रतिज्ञा गरे अनुरूप आफ्नो कार्यकालमै मेलम्चीको खानेपानी आपूर्ति शुरू भइसकेकोमा प्रसन्नता व्यक्त गर्नुभयो । साथै मेलम्ची आयोजनाको दोस्रो चरणको निर्माण कार्य पनि समयमै सम्पन्न भइ आम नागरिकले राहत पाउने विश्वास व्यक्त गर्नुभयो । मेलम्ची खानेपानी विकास बोर्डका कार्यकारी निर्देशक तिरेश प्रसाद खत्रीले काठमाण्डौका जनताले खानेपानीको अभावका कारण तनाव ब्यहोर्नुपर्ने, निद्रा बिगारी पानी भर्नुपर्ने तथा प्रदूषित पानीका कारण लाग्ने विविध रोगव्याधिले आक्रान्त हुनुपर्ने समयको अन्त्य हुुने क्रम शुरू भएको उल्लेख गर्नुभयो । यस सफलताले नेपालको खानेपानीको इतिहासमा स्वर्णिम युगको शुभारंभ भएको उहाँले बताउनुभयो । साथै उहाँले आयोजनाको निर्माण कार्य सम्पन्न गर्न प्रेरित गर्नुहुने सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री, माननीय खानेपानी मन्त्री र अन्य सबै शुभचिन्तकहरूप्रति हार्दिक आभार प्रकट गर्नुभयो । उहाँले केही महिनाभित्रै चक्रपथभित्र नयाँ वितरण प्रणालीमार्फत् मेलम्चीको खानेपानी आपूर्ति गरिने बताउनुभयो । मेलम्ची आयोजनाको दोस्रो चरण अन्तर्गत यांग्री र लार्के खोलाको दैनिक १७/१७ करोड लिटर खानेपानी उपत्यकामा आपूर्ति गर्ने कार्य अघि बढिसकेको बताउनुहुँदै उहाँले राष्ट्रिय गौरवको मेलम्ची आयोजनामा अहोरात्र खटिने सम्बन्धित सबैप्रति धन्यवाद व्यक्त गर्नुभयो । कार्यक्रमको समापन गर्नुहुँदै खानेपानी मन्त्रालयका तथा सभाका अध्यक्ष सचिव माधव बेलबासेले कार्यक्रममा उपस्थित भइ गर्नुभएको थियो । आयोजनाको सफल कार्यान्वयनका लागि प्रेरणा दिइरहनुहुने सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्रीप्रति हार्दिक आभार प्रकट गर्नुभयो । तिर्र्र्खाएको काठमाण्डौलाई खुशियाली दिने सिन्धुपाल्चोकको मेलम्ची र हेलम्बुका स्थानीयबासीप्रति विशेष धन्यवाद प्रकट गर्नुभयो । साथै लाखौँ उपत्यकाबासीको मुहारमा खुशी ल्याउने यस आयोजनाको सफल कार्यान्वयनमा भूमिका खेल्नुहुने सम्बन्धित सबैलाई धन्यवाद दिँदै सचिव बेलबासेले मेलम्ची आयोजनाका कर्मचारीहरू, एप्टिसा परामर्शदातृ कम्पनी, निर्माण व्यवसायी कम्पनी सिनो हाइड्रोप्रति विशेष धन्यवाद प्रकट गर्नुभयो । उहाँले सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री तथा राष्ट्रपतिज्यूबाट प्राप्त निर्देशनहरू कार्यान्वयन गर्ने प्रतिबद्धता व्यक्त गर्नुहुँदै व्यस्त समयका बावजूद कार्यक्रममा उपस्थित भइदिनुभएकोमा उहाँहरू र अन्य विशिष्ट अतिथिहरूप्रति धन्यवाद व्यक्त गर्नुभयो ।

 

A Follow-up High-level Meeting was held with SafBon Water Holdings (Inc), Shanghai, on performance assessment of TP-02 (wastewater treatment plants under construction at Dhobighat, Balkumari and Sallaghari). The meeting was held in the presence of Project Director of KUKL-PID Bhoj Bikram Thapa, Chairman of SafBon Hilling Zhang, Deputy Project Director of KUKL-PID Rabindra Pokhrel, Project Manager Surat Kumar Bam, Chief of KUKL-PID's Procurement Unit Laxmi Pant, authorised representative of DOHWA Engineering Cho Dae Whan and consultants under KUKL-PID.
The high-level meeting conducted performance assessment of TP-02 and discussed way forward to complete the WWTPs on time.
It is the follow-up meet of a meeting held in November 2019.

Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited, Project Implementation Directorate (PID) organised a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) workshop for Construction Supervision Engineers (CSEs) and contractors on December 17, 2019. The overall objective of the workshop was to discuss Nepal Labour Act and Labour Rules, GESI Action Plan and the Government of Nepal's GESI Guidelines.

The specific objectives were to a) orient contractors, Design Supervision Consultants (DSCs) and workers on core labour standards (equal wages, health and safety) based on Nepal Labour Act and Labour Rules b) Discuss contractual obligations related to GESI c) Understand issues and problems faced while implementing projects and ways to overcome them.

Project Director of PID, Bhoj Bikram Thapa expressed hope that this workshop will help achieve gender mainstreaming in project areas. He pointed that they were working with the main focus on supplying Melamchi water to the public.

Team Leader of the Community Awareness and Safeguards Support Consultant, Ram Krishna Giri, pointed that they were presenting a GESI checklist at the workshop with the objective of receiving feedback from DSCs and contractors.

Sociologist of PID, Vidya Bhandari, made a presentation on Nepal Labour Act and Labour Rules by including issues like a) equal wage for equal work b) obligations of workers and the contractors c) legal restrictions on child labour d) labour and labour welfare-related policy arrangements e) occupational health and safety provisions g) the right to work.

While Sociologist of PID, Pramila Adhikari Neupane, made a presentation on GESI Action Plan and the Government of Nepal's GESI guidelines by including points like a) legal provision on appointment of locals living in project areas b) 45 per cent of the workforce from women, poor and deprived communities on the basis of their skills and expertise c) adequate training opportunities for inclusive operation and maintenance teams

Shishir Gautam (Social Development Expert, DSC-05), Anil Belbase (Community Mobilisation Expert, CASSC) and Bharat Acharya (Community Mobilisation Expert, CASSC) made presentations highlighting issues like GESI compliance and categorisation of workers and need on the part of the contractors to maintain attendance register.

Chief of PID's Safeguards Unit, Laxmi Pant, thanked all for their participation on a short notice and their feedback/inputs.

सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री के. पी. शर्मा ओलीज्यूले बालकुमारीमा निर्माण हुने फोहर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्रको शिलान्यास गर्नुभयो ।

पौष १९, २०७५ का दिन आयोजित उक्तकार्यक्रममा माननीय सांसदज्यूहरु, नेपाल सरकारका सचिवहरु, पूर्वसचिवहरु, मेलम्ची खानेपानी आयोजनासँग सम्बन्धित निकायहरुका पदाधिकारीहरु र निर्वाचित स्थानीय निकायका प्रतिनिधिहरु लगायतको उल्लेख्य उपस्थिति रहेको थियो ।

सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्रीले केही अन्योल देखिए पनि खानेपानी मन्त्रालय मेलम्ची खानेपानी आयोजनाको निर्माणमा तिब्रताका साथ अघि बढिरहेको बताउँदै रातदिन एक गरेर आयोजनाका लागि काम गर्ने सबैलाई धन्यवाद दिनुभयो ।

कार्यक्रमका प्रमुख अतिथि प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीले मेलम्ची आयोजना अन्तर्गत यांग्री र लार्के खोलाको पानी उपत्यकामा ल्याउनका लागि अझ द्रुत गतिमा काम गर्न आयोजना निर्माणमा संलग्न निकायहरू र निर्माण कम्पनीहरूलाई निर्देशन दिनुभयो । उहाँले वाग्मती नदीको अवस्थामा सुधार ल्याउन सरकार प्रतिबद्ध रहेको बताउनुभयो । हामी सक्छौँ भन्ने भावना लिइ काम गर्न सबैलाई आग्रह गर्दै फोहर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्रहरूको निर्माण र संचालनमा सम्बद्ध विदेशी कम्पनीहरूबाट आवश्यक सिप सिकी नेपालीहरू नै जतिसक्दो छिटो ती केन्द्रहरू संचालन गर्न तयार हुनुपर्नेमा जोड दिनुभयो ।

कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै कार्यक्रमका विशेष अतिथि माननीय खानेपानी मन्त्री बिना मगरज्यूले वाग्मती नदीलाई सफा बनाउने प्रतिबद्धता व्यक्त गर्नुभयो । पानीका मुहानहरूलाई सफा राखेर मात्रै मानव जीवनलाई स्वस्थ र सुन्दर बनाउन सकिन्छ भन्दै उहाँले भन्नुभयोः हामीले वाग्मती नदीलाई प्राकृतिक स्वरूपमा फर्काउने अभियानको थालनी गरेका छौँ । यहाँहरू सबैको सकारात्मक चासो र हातेमालोकै कारण आज हामी वाग्मतीको पानी प्रशोधन गर्ने ऐतिहासिक दिनसम्म आइपुगेका छौँ ।

वाग्मतीमा सफा पानी बग्न र वातावरणलाई स्वच्छ बनाउने अभियान अघि बढिेको बताउँदै माननीय मन्त्रीले पहिलो चरणमा गरिएको प्रशोधनले कोडकु क्षेत्रका ३ लाख ८० हजार, सल्लाघारी क्षेत्रका ४ लाख ५४ हजार, धोबीघाट क्षेत्रका २२ लाख ८ हजार गरी कुल ३० लाख ४४ हजार जनसंख्या लाभान्वित हुने बताउनुभयो ।

खानेपानी मन्त्रालय देशैभरि खानेपानीको पहुँचमा वृद्धि गर्नका लागि विभिन्न योजनाहरू बनाइ अघि बढिरहेको उहाँको भनाइ थियो ।

कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै आयोजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालयका आयोजना निर्देशक तिरेश प्रसाद खत्रीले नदीहरूले धार परिवर्तन गर्दा फोहर पानी व्यवस्थापन प्रणाली निर्माणको क्रममा नदी किनारमा ढलका पाइपहरू बिछ्याउन कठिनाइ हुने गरेको बताउँदै यस सम्बन्धमा स्पष्ट कानूनको खाँचो औँल्याउनुभयो ।

निर्देशनालयको फोहर पानी व्यवस्थापन आयोजना अन्तर्गत निर्माण हुने अत्याधुनिक फोहर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्रहरूका विशेषताहरू उल्लेख गर्दै उहाँले ती प्रशोधन केन्द्रहरूमा जडित प्रविधिका कारण दुर्गन्ध नफैलिने बताउनुभयो । साथै ती प्रशोधन केन्द्रहरूको बाहिरी भागमा हरियाली कायम गरिने र त्यहाँ साइक्लिङ, योग, प्रातःकालीन भ्रमण गर्न सकिने जानकारी दिनुभयो । 
उहाँले ललितपुरका स्थानीय निकायबाट फोहर पानी व्यवस्थापन संरचनाहरूको निर्माणमा सहयोग प्राप्त भैरहेको उल्लेख गर्नुभयो ।

कार्यक्रममा सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्रीज्यूको उपस्थितिले आफूहरूलाई ऊर्जा दिएको बताउँदै आयोजना निर्देशक खत्रीले फोहर पानी व्यवस्थापन पूर्वाधारको निर्माणले संवृद्ध नेपाली, सुखी नेपालको सपना साकार पार्न बल मिल्ने विश्वास व्यक्त गर्नुभयो ।

प्रशोधन केन्द्रको शिलान्यास कार्यक्रममा बोल्दै ललितपुर महानगरका मेयर चिरीबाबु महर्जनले भन्नुभयोः राम्रो कामको थालनी भयो, शुभकामना । 
उहाँले प्रशोधन केन्द्रको निर्माण समयमै सम्पन्न हुने अपेक्षा गर्नुभयो । आफ्नो बाल्यकालमा कोडकु, वाग्मती लगायतका खोलाहरूमा कंचन पानी बग्ने गरेको र त्यहाँ आफूहरूले पौडी खेल्ने गरेको स्मरण गर्दै उहाँले भन्नुभयोः बुढेसकालमै भएपनि वाग्मतीमा पौडी खेल्न पाऊँ ।

निर्देशनालयलाई प्रशोधन केन्द्रको बाहिरी भागमा हरियाली कायम गरी, पार्क बनाइ केन्द्रको निर्माण गर्न शुरू गरेमा काम गर्न सजिलो हुने उहाँको सुझाव थियो । धोबीघाटमा निर्माण हुन लागेको फोहर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्रको उल्लेख गर्दैै उहाँले भन्नुभयोेः निर्देशनालयले राम्रो प्रयासको थालनी गर्यो, जनप्रतिनिधिको हैसियतले हामीहरूले पनि साथ दियौँ ।

निर्देशनालयका आयोजना प्रबन्धक सुरत कुमार बमले उपत्यकामा पानीको खपत भएपछि निष्कासन हुने फोहर पानी नगरपालिकाहरूको ढल प्रणालीमार्फत् सोझै नदी, खोलाहरूमा मिसिने गरेको बताउँदै गोकर्ण र हनुमानघाटमा ढल प्रशोधन गरी प्रशोधित पानी प्रवाहित गर्नका लागि विकेन्द्रित फोहर पानी प्रशोधन प्रणाली निर्माणको प्रस्ताव गरिएको जानकारी दिनुभयो । साथै फोहर पानी प्रशोधन गर्नका लागि गुह्येश्वरी, धोबीघाट, सल्लाघारी र बालकुमारीमा फोहर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्रहरू निर्माणाधीन रहेको बताउनुभयो ।

उहाँले गुह्येश्वरी प्रशोधन केन्द्रको निर्माण ८० प्रतिशत पुरा भैसकेको जानकारी दिनुभयो । यी केन्द्रहरूमा ढल प्रशोधनका क्रममा बिजुलीका साथै ठोस फोहर उत्पन्न हुने र त्यसलाई मलको रूपमा प्रयोग गर्न सकिने उल्लेख गर्नुभयो । केन्द्रहरूबाट निस्कने प्रशोधित पानीको बहुआयामिक उपयोगमाथि प्रकाश पार्दै उहाँले त्यसलाई सिंचाइ र industrial cooling जस्ता प्रयोजनका लागि प्रयोग गर्न सकिन्छ भन्नुभयो । केन्द्रमा जडान हुने दुर्गन्ध न्युनीकरण इकाइका कारण दुर्गन्ध फैलिँदैन, उहाँले भन्नुभयोः सफा पानी नदीमा मिसिएपछि जैविक विविधता कायम गर्न मदत मिल्छ, पर्यटन प्रर्वद्धन गर्न सकिन्छ ।

कार्यक्रमको समापनका क्रममा खानेपानी मन्त्रालयका सचिव गजेन्द्र कुमार ठाकुरले मन्त्रालयले समयमै प्रशोधन केन्द्रको निर्माण सम्पन्न हुने अपेक्षा गरेको बताउनुभयो । उहाँले वायु, जल, माटो शुद्ध होस् भन्ने उद्देश्यका साथ मन्त्रालय अघि बढन चाहेको बताउनुभयो ।

मिति २०७६/०२/०६ काठमाण्डौ उपत्यका खानेपानी लिमिटेड, आयोजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालयले निर्देशनालयका नवनियुक्त कायम मुकायम आयोजना निर्देशक भोज विक्रम थापाको सम्मानमा स्वागत कार्यक्रमको आयोजना गर्यो । माननीय खानेपानी मन्त्री स्तरको २०७५/०६/०५ को निर्णय बमोजिम थापाले २०७५/०६/०६ देखि आयोजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालयको का.मु. आयोजना निर्देशकको पदभार ग्रहण गर्नुभएको हो । करिब ३ दशक लामो निजामती सेवाका क्रममा निर्देशक थापाले साना शहरी खानेपानी तथा सरसफाइ आयोजना, मेलम्ची खानेपानी आयोजना र खानेपानी तथा ढल निकास विभाग अन्तर्गत विभिन्न खानेपानी तथा सरसफाइ आयोजनाहरू निर्माण तथा संचालनको लागि उप–आयोजना निर्देशक, उप–कार्यकारी निर्देशक तथा जिल्ला इंजिनियरजस्ता ओहदाहरूमा रही सेवा गरीसक्नुभएको छ । स्वागत कार्यक्रममा बोल्नुहुँदै निर्देशनालयका आयोजना उप–निर्देशक मिलन कुमार शाक्यले उपत्यकाभित्र मेलम्ची आयोजनाका संरचनाहरूको निर्माण कार्यमा निर्देशनालयले हासिल गरेको प्रगति विवरण प्रस्तुत गर्नुभएको थियो । नवनियुक्त निर्देशक थापाले मेलम्ची बोर्डको उप कार्यकारी निर्देशकको रूपमा कार्य गर्नुभएको स्मरण गर्नुहुँदै शाक्यले उहाँको कार्यकालमा मेलम्चीको पूर्ण प्रशोधित खानेपानी उपत्यकामा ल्याउन अझ सहज हुने विश्वास व्यक्त गर्नुभयो । निर्देशनालयका आयोजना प्रबन्धक सुरत कुमार बमले खानेपानी आपूर्ति तथा फोहर पानी व्यवस्थापन संरचनाहरु मेलम्ची आयोजनाका अभिन्न अंगहरु भएको बताउँदै तिनको निर्माण कार्यलाई सँगसँगै अघि बढाउनुपर्नेमा जोड दिनुभयो । आयोजना व्यवस्थापन परामर्शदाता ध्रुव राज रेग्मीले घना बस्तीयुक्त काठमाण्डौमा मेलम्ची आयोजनाका संरचनाहरूको निर्माण गर्ने कार्य चुनौतीपूर्ण भए पनि निर्देशनालय अन्तर्गत विभिन्न विषयका विज्ञहरू कार्यरत रहेको हुँदा उहाँहरूको विज्ञताको प्रयोग गरी उक्त कार्य सम्पन्न गर्न सकिने विश्वास व्यक्त गर्नुभयो । कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्नुहुँदै निर्देशक थापाले मेलम्ची आयोजनाको प्रथम चरणको निर्माण सम्पन्न भइसकेपछि उपत्यकामा प्रतिदिन थप १७ करोड लिटर र दोस्रो चरणको निर्माण भइसकेपछि प्रतिदिन थप ३४ करोड लिटर पूर्ण प्रशोधित खानेपानी उपत्यकामा आपूर्ति हुने तथ्य स्मरण गराउनुभयो । समग्र आयोजनाको निर्माण सम्पन्न भइसकेपछि प्रतिदिन ५१ करोड लिटर खानेपानी आपूर्ति हुने हुँदा यसै तथ्यलाई ध्यानमा राखी खानेपानी आपूर्ति तथा फोहर पानी व्यवस्थापन संरचनाहरूको निर्माण गर्नु आवश्यक रहेको स्मरण गराउनुहुँदै निर्देशक थापाले समग्र समूहको सहयोगले छिट्टै काठमाण्डौ उपत्यकामा मेलम्चीको खानेपानी आपूर्ति गर्न सकिने विश्वास व्यक्त गर्नुभयो । निर्देशक थापाले सबैको साथ सहयोग लिइ उपत्यकाबासीलाई मेलम्चीको खानेपानी वितरण गर्न एक भएर लाग्नुपर्ने बताउनुभयो । साथै मेलम्चीको पानी काठमाण्डौ उपत्यका प्रवेश गर्नासाथ उक्त पानी जनताको घरघरमा पुर्याउने गरी यस निर्देशनायले यथाशिघ्र तयारी पूर्ण गर्नुपर्ने बताउनुभयो ।

असोज २, २०७६ काठमाण्डौ उपत्यका खानेपानी लिमिटेड, आयोजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालयले मेलम्ची बोर्डको कार्यकारी निर्देशकको रूपमा नियुक्त हुनुभएका निर्देशनालयका निवर्तमान आयोजना निर्देशक तिरेश प्रसाद खत्रीको बिदाइ कार्यक्रमको आयोजना गर्यो । उक्त कार्यक्रमलाइ निर्देशनालयका आयोजना उप-निर्देशक मिलन कुमार शाक्य, आयोजना प्रबन्धक सुरत कुमार बम, निर्देशनालयको सुरक्षण इकाइका प्रमुख लक्ष्मी पन्त भट्ट, अर्थ प्रबन्धक रविन कोइराला, निर्देशनालयका आयोजना व्यवस्थापनविद ध्रुव राज रेग्मी, डिजाइन सुपरभिजन कन्सल्टयान्ट-०६ का टोली नेता पास्कल ज्यान्सेन लगायतका वक्ताहरूले संबोधन गर्नुभएको थियो । वक्ताहरूले आयोजना निर्देशकको रूपमा खत्रीले प्रदर्शन गर्नुभएको क्षमताको प्रशंसा गर्नुभएको थियो । उहाँको नेतृत्वमा निर्देशनालयले उपत्यकाभित्र मेलम्ची आयोजना अन्तर्गतका धेरै संरचनाहरूको निर्माण गर्न सकेको उहाँहरूको भनाइ थियो । साथै वक्ताहरूले निर्देशनालयको आयोजना निर्देशकको रूपमा सफलता हासिल गरेजस्तै बोर्डको कार्यकारी निर्देशकको पद संहालिसकेपछि मेलम्ची सुरूङको बाँकी रहेको काम सम्पन्न गरी उपत्यकाबासीलाइ मेलम्चीको पानी खुवाउन उहाँ सक्षम हुनुहुनेछ भन्ने विश्वास प्रकट गर्दै सफल कार्यकालको शुभकामना दिनुभयो । उक्त अवसरमा उप-निर्देशक मिलन कुमार शाक्य, आयोजना प्रबन्धक सुरत कुमार बम, सुरक्षण इकाइका प्रमुख लक्ष्मी पन्त भट्ट, डिजाइन सुपरभिजन कन्सल्टयान्ट-०६ का उप-टोली नेता नन्द बहादुर खनाल लगायतले निर्देशक खत्रीलाइ मायाको चिनो प्रदान गर्नुभएको थियो । कार्यक्रमको समापनका क्रममा छोटो मन्तव्य दिँदै निर्देशक खत्रीले विगतमा झैँ सबैको साथ पाएमा आफू पदीय दायित्व पुरा गर्न सफल हुने विश्वास व्यक्त गर्नु भयो ।

Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited, Project Implementation Directorate (PID) has started sectional flushing and commissioning of the Bulk Distribution System (BDS). As part of the operation meant to gradually ensure full functionality of the water distribution system, the PID started diverting water (35-40 million litres per day) from the intake to the Sundarijal Water Treatment Plant (WTP) on August 15, 2019 for sectional flushing and commissioning of BDS pipelines. 
• August 16-19: PID conducted flushing of the washouts at Sundarijal, Bagmati, Kolamati and Gokarna
• August 19-20: Flushing of the BDS pipeline from the Sundarijal WTP to Dhobikhola Bridge (Vaijani Pool) was conducted. During this operation, turbidity of the discharge was brought to around 10 Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU)
• Like last year, PID is flushing and commissioning other BDS sections in a gradual manner, apart from conducting 72-hr drop test at Balaju service reservoir tank (SRT) and New Mahankal SRT, among others

 

A high-level meeting on Project Performance and Issues regarding the Construction of the Wastewater Treatment Plant at Sallaghari, Kodku/Balkumari, and Dhobighat was held between the Project Implementation Directorate/KUKL, Design Supervision Consultant (DSC-06) and the contractor Safbon Water Service (Holdings) Shanghai, China on May 24, 2019 at Kathmandu. The meeting focused on the low progress of the contract and the ways for expediting the progress.

At the meeting, the Consultants and Contractor's representatives briefed about the status of construction of the WWTPs and the issues to be discussed and resolved.

PID's Project Director Tiresh Prasad Khatri and Project Manager Surat Kumar Bam highlighted the objectives of the meeting requiring immediate attention and action by the contractor to speed up the pace of the construction works. The PD expressed serious concern for the low progress and advised the contractor to mobilize additional resources in order to complete the construction of WWTPs within the stipulated period. The contractor was also directed to improve the status of compliance of occupational health and safety standards as well as prepare site-specific environment management plans.

Project Officer Ms Vivian Castro-Wooldridge from Asian Development Bank participated in the meeting and expressed ADB’s concern for the slow progress and less disbursement.

The Representative from Contractor, Vice President, Ms Chen Lei expressed the commitment on-behalf of Safbon Water Service (Holdings) Shanghai to mobilize additional resources and complete the works.

The meeting concluded with the agreed action plan to be followed by all the parties.

Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited, Project Implementation Directorate (PID) organized an interaction program on Process, Operation and Maintenance of Guheshwori Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), on March 25.  

Participants included Secretary of the Ministry of Water Supply Dipendra Nath Sharma, international wastewater expert Dr Rajendra Bhattarai, Joint Secretaries Tej Raj Bhatta and Anil Bhadra Khanal, General Manager of KUKL Dr Mahesh Bhattarai, Executive Director of Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board Dr Sanjeev Bickram Rana, Project Director of PID Tiresh Prasad Khatri, Deputy Project Director Milan Kumar Shakya, PID’s Project Manager Surat Kumar Bam, engineer Kishor Panthee and representatives of VA Tech WABAG, the contractor building the WWTP at Guheshwori.  

The issues raised during the interaction included environment-friendly aspects of the WWTP, sludge management, measures to make the WWTP safe for visitors, capacity enhancement of KUKL staff to make them able to operate the WWTP in future, energy generating capacity of the WWTP, additional power required to operate it, consequences of delays in the arrival of water from the Melamchi and how the discharge of 375 litres of water/sec treated at the WWTP will have positive impact on environmental flow of the Bagmati river downstream of Guheshwori.  

International expert Dr Bhattarai described the Guheshwori treatment plant as a ‘gold-plated treatment plant’ listing features like anaerobic digester, odor control and tertiary treatment. He pointed the need for KUKL to develop institutional capacity to operate the plant, as the contractor will hand it over after operating it for 10 years.

He also pointed the need for anti-corrosive measures at the plant.  Secretary Sharma said he will take initiatives for providing grant to KUKL till it adjusts water tariff, pointing that urban poverty should be taken into account during tariff adjustment. Sharma pointed that WWTPs under construction in the Kathmandu Valley will cover 40 per cent of the valley population in five years. Sharma highlighted the need to involve KUKL human resources from the construction phase of WWTPs to enhance their operational capabilities through knowledge/technology transfer.  He thanked the PID for organizing the program by looking into possible challenges in the operation of WWTP.

The Country Portfolio Review Meeting (CPRM) 2018 of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) began in Kathmandu on March 8, 2019.

On the occasion, Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited, Project Implementation Directorate (PID) received ADB’s Exemplary Contribution Award (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) as well as Exemplary Contribution Award (Environment and Social Compliance Monitoring). Project Director Tiresh Prasad Khatri received the awards on behalf of PID in the presence of Secretary of the Ministry of Water Supply Dipendra Nath Sharma, Deputy Director General of ADB/SARD Diwesh Sharan, ADB/NRM Country Director Mukhtor Khamudkhanov, ADB's Urban Development Specialist Vivian Casto-Wooldridge and other distinguished guests.

The CPRM, co-chaired by the Ministry of Finance and ADB and joined by the concerned line ministries of the Goverrnment, aims to i) assess the performance against key portfolio indicators in 2018; ii) review the status of implementation of all projects and programs with the concerned line ministries; iii) discuss sector and project specific issues affecting portfolio performance; iv) review the progress of agreed actions during the last portfolio review; v) review and agree on 2019 contract award and disbursement projections; and vi) prepare and agree on the comprehensive action plan for 2019.

काठमाण्डौ उपत्यका खानेपानी लिमिटेड (KUKL), आयोजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालय र ललितपुर महानगरपालिका कार्यालयको संयुक्त आयोजनामा २०७५, फागुन ८ गते धोबीघाटमा निर्माण हुने आधुनिक, वातावरण–मैत्री फोहर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्र सम्बन्धमा बैठक सम्पन्न भयो ।

महानगरपालिकाको सभा हलमा आयोजना गरिएको उक्त बैठकमा प्रतिनिधि–सभाका सांसद मा. पम्फा भुसाल, प्रदेश सभाका सांसद मा. जीवन खडका, ललितपुर महानगरपालिकाका मेयर चिरीबाबु महर्जन, उप–मेयर गीता सत्याल, ललितपुर जिल्लाका प्रमुख जिल्ला अधिकारी प्रेम राज जोशी, सुरक्षा निकायका प्रतिनिधि, KUKL का महा–प्रबन्धक महेश भट्टराइ, निर्देशनालयका आयोजना निर्देशक तिरेश प्रसाद खत्री, ललितपुर महानगरपालिका वडा नं ४ का अध्यक्ष नारायण केसी र स्थानीय सरोकार समितिका प्रतिनिधिहरू लगायतको उपस्थिति रहेको थियो ।

उक्त बैठकले निम्न निर्णयहरू गरेको छ ।

१. आयोजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालयले आजको मिति अर्थात् २०७५, फागुन ८ देखि ४ दिनभित्र फोहर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्र निर्माणसम्बन्धी कार्यको तालिका बनाइ सम्बन्धित स्थानीय तह, ललितपुर महानगरपालिका कार्यालय तथा स्थानीय सरोकार समितिलाई उपलब्ध गराउनेछ । कार्यतालिकामा निर्माणस्थल वरिपरि पर्खाल र पार्क निर्माण लगायतका कार्यलाई पहिलो चरणमा राखिनेछ ।

२. निर्देशनालयले निर्माण कार्य शुरू गर्नु अगावै सम्बन्धित स्थानीय तहको रोहबरमा सरोकार समितिसँग प्रशोधन केन्द्रले स्थानीय समुदायलाई असर नगर्ने लिखित प्रतिबद्धता गर्नेछ र पर्खाल, पार्क लगायतको निर्माण कार्य मार्च १, २०१९ (फागुन १७, २०७५) देखि शुरू गर्नेछ ।

३. सरोकार समितिका सदस्यहरुले आधुनिक फोहर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्रका वातावरण-मैत्री पक्षहरुबारे जानकारी लिइ आश्वस्त हुन चाहेको र हाल देशभित्र त्यस्तो केन्द्र संचालनमा आइनसकेको परिप्रेक्ष्यमा निर्देशनालयले विदेश भ्रमणको लागि सम्बन्धित मन्त्रालयसँग आवश्यक पहल गर्नेछ । साथै गुह्येश्वरीस्थित प्रशोधन केन्द्र संचालनमा आइसकेपछि निर्देशनालयले सरोकार समितिका सदस्यहरुलाई अवलोकन भ्रमण गराउनका लागि पहल गर्नेछ ।

४. निर्देशनालयले हाल संचालनमा रहेको अफलडोल क्षेत्रको बाटो कालोपत्रे गर्ने मागका सम्बन्धमा पहल गर्नेछ ।

Kathmandu: An ADB review mission for Loan 2776: Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Improvement Project and Loan 3255: Additional Financing of Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Improvement Project inspected different Melamchi Project construction sites from January 24 to February 1, 2019.

The mission’s main objective was to review and discuss all aspects of project implementation progress and issues, with a focus on (i) readiness of PID and KUKL to receive Melamchi river water supply and commission and operate the new assets (ii) progress of the Sundarijal water treatment plant construction (iii) compliance with environmental safeguards and health and safety standards and (iv) project communications.

Mission members visited sites, including Durbarmarg, Jayanepal, Ghantaghar and Kuleshwor, and also held discussions with PID and other relevant officials.

Lalitpur: A team of officials from the Asian Development Bank, Department of Archaeology and the KUKL-Project Implementation Directorate (KUKL-PID) visited archaeological sites along the proposed Sewer Network-03 alignment’s Lagankhel-Shankhamul section on January 29, 2019.  

KUKL-PID and Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) had formally signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) for a Combined Sewer Network Rehabilitation in core areas of Lalitpur Metropolis, on August 6, 2018. The project with an estimated cost of Rs 480 million is expected to address problems related to waterlogging and wastewater in core city areas of Lalitpur, including the Patan Durbar Square (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Kumaripati.

A regular water supply and IED mission from the Asian Development Bank attended PID’s presentation on the status of safeguards at construction sites under Melamchi Water Supply Subproject-02, at PID Hall on January 28, 2019. The presentation covered topics such as safeguards assurance mechanism, status of compliance monitoring, new initiatives taken to further improve safeguards compliance at construction sites and good safeguards practices.

During the presentation, PID officials responded to questions coming from mission members, which were mainly related to Grievance Redress Mechanism and its working procedure, the process of land acquisition and compensation, among others.

Mission members also visited project sites, including Durbarmarg, Panipokhari, Tripureshwor, Teku and Kuleshwor with PID officials.

सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री के. पी. शर्मा ओलीज्यूले बालकुमारीमा निर्माण हुने फोहर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्रको शिलान्यास गर्नुभयो ।

पौष १९, २०७५ का दिन आयोजित उक्तकार्यक्रममा माननीय सांसदज्यूहरु, नेपाल सरकारका सचिवहरु, पूर्वसचिवहरु, मेलम्ची खानेपानी आयोजनासँग सम्बन्धित निकायहरुका पदाधिकारीहरु र निर्वाचित स्थानीय निकायका प्रतिनिधिहरु लगायतको उल्लेख्य उपस्थिति रहेको थियो ।

सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्रीले केही अन्योल देखिए पनि खानेपानी मन्त्रालय मेलम्ची खानेपानी आयोजनाको निर्माणमा तिब्रताका साथ अघि बढिरहेको बताउँदै रातदिन एक गरेर आयोजनाका लागि काम गर्ने सबैलाई धन्यवाद दिनुभयो ।

कार्यक्रमका प्रमुख अतिथि प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीले मेलम्ची आयोजना अन्तर्गत यांग्री र लार्के खोलाको पानी उपत्यकामा ल्याउनका लागि अझ द्रुत गतिमा काम गर्न आयोजना निर्माणमा संलग्न निकायहरू र निर्माण कम्पनीहरूलाई निर्देशन दिनुभयो । उहाँले वाग्मती नदीको अवस्थामा सुधार ल्याउन सरकार प्रतिबद्ध रहेको बताउनुभयो । हामी सक्छौँ भन्ने भावना लिइ काम गर्न सबैलाई आग्रह गर्दै फोहर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्रहरूको निर्माण र संचालनमा सम्बद्ध विदेशी कम्पनीहरूबाट आवश्यक सिप सिकी नेपालीहरू नै जतिसक्दो छिटो ती केन्द्रहरू संचालन गर्न तयार हुनुपर्नेमा जोड दिनुभयो ।

कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै कार्यक्रमका विशेष अतिथि माननीय खानेपानी मन्त्री बिना मगरज्यूले वाग्मती नदीलाई सफा बनाउने प्रतिबद्धता व्यक्त गर्नुभयो । पानीका मुहानहरूलाई सफा राखेर मात्रै मानव जीवनलाई स्वस्थ र सुन्दर बनाउन सकिन्छ भन्दै उहाँले भन्नुभयोः हामीले वाग्मती नदीलाई प्राकृतिक स्वरूपमा फर्काउने अभियानको थालनी गरेका छौँ । यहाँहरू सबैको सकारात्मक चासो र हातेमालोकै कारण आज हामी वाग्मतीको पानी प्रशोधन गर्ने ऐतिहासिक दिनसम्म आइपुगेका छौँ ।

वाग्मतीमा सफा पानी बग्न र वातावरणलाई स्वच्छ बनाउने अभियान अघि बढिेको बताउँदै माननीय मन्त्रीले पहिलो चरणमा गरिएको प्रशोधनले कोडकु क्षेत्रका ३ लाख ८० हजार, सल्लाघारी क्षेत्रका ४ लाख ५४ हजार, धोबीघाट क्षेत्रका २२ लाख ८ हजार गरी कुल ३० लाख ४४ हजार जनसंख्या लाभान्वित हुने बताउनुभयो ।

खानेपानी मन्त्रालय देशैभरि खानेपानीको पहुँचमा वृद्धि गर्नका लागि विभिन्न योजनाहरू बनाइ अघि बढिरहेको उहाँको भनाइ थियो ।

कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै आयोजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालयका आयोजना निर्देशक तिरेश प्रसाद खत्रीले नदीहरूले धार परिवर्तन गर्दा फोहर पानी व्यवस्थापन प्रणाली निर्माणको क्रममा नदी किनारमा ढलका पाइपहरू बिछ्याउन कठिनाइ हुने गरेको बताउँदै यस सम्बन्धमा स्पष्ट कानूनको खाँचो औँल्याउनुभयो ।

निर्देशनालयको फोहर पानी व्यवस्थापन आयोजना अन्तर्गत निर्माण हुने अत्याधुनिक फोहर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्रहरूका विशेषताहरू उल्लेख गर्दै उहाँले ती प्रशोधन केन्द्रहरूमा जडित प्रविधिका कारण दुर्गन्ध नफैलिने बताउनुभयो । साथै ती प्रशोधन केन्द्रहरूको बाहिरी भागमा हरियाली कायम गरिने र त्यहाँ साइक्लिङ, योग, प्रातःकालीन भ्रमण गर्न सकिने जानकारी दिनुभयो । 
उहाँले ललितपुरका स्थानीय निकायबाट फोहर पानी व्यवस्थापन संरचनाहरूको निर्माणमा सहयोग प्राप्त भैरहेको उल्लेख गर्नुभयो ।

कार्यक्रममा सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्रीज्यूको उपस्थितिले आफूहरूलाई ऊर्जा दिएको बताउँदै आयोजना निर्देशक खत्रीले फोहर पानी व्यवस्थापन पूर्वाधारको निर्माणले संवृद्ध नेपाली, सुखी नेपालको सपना साकार पार्न बल मिल्ने विश्वास व्यक्त गर्नुभयो ।

प्रशोधन केन्द्रको शिलान्यास कार्यक्रममा बोल्दै ललितपुर महानगरका मेयर चिरीबाबु महर्जनले भन्नुभयोः राम्रो कामको थालनी भयो, शुभकामना । 
उहाँले प्रशोधन केन्द्रको निर्माण समयमै सम्पन्न हुने अपेक्षा गर्नुभयो । आफ्नो बाल्यकालमा कोडकु, वाग्मती लगायतका खोलाहरूमा कंचन पानी बग्ने गरेको र त्यहाँ आफूहरूले पौडी खेल्ने गरेको स्मरण गर्दै उहाँले भन्नुभयोः बुढेसकालमै भएपनि वाग्मतीमा पौडी खेल्न पाऊँ ।

निर्देशनालयलाई प्रशोधन केन्द्रको बाहिरी भागमा हरियाली कायम गरी, पार्क बनाइ केन्द्रको निर्माण गर्न शुरू गरेमा काम गर्न सजिलो हुने उहाँको सुझाव थियो । धोबीघाटमा निर्माण हुन लागेको फोहर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्रको उल्लेख गर्दैै उहाँले भन्नुभयोेः निर्देशनालयले राम्रो प्रयासको थालनी गर्यो, जनप्रतिनिधिको हैसियतले हामीहरूले पनि साथ दियौँ ।

निर्देशनालयका आयोजना प्रबन्धक सुरत कुमार बमले उपत्यकामा पानीको खपत भएपछि निष्कासन हुने फोहर पानी नगरपालिकाहरूको ढल प्रणालीमार्फत् सोझै नदी, खोलाहरूमा मिसिने गरेको बताउँदै गोकर्ण र हनुमानघाटमा ढल प्रशोधन गरी प्रशोधित पानी प्रवाहित गर्नका लागि विकेन्द्रित फोहर पानी प्रशोधन प्रणाली निर्माणको प्रस्ताव गरिएको जानकारी दिनुभयो । साथै फोहर पानी प्रशोधन गर्नका लागि गुह्येश्वरी, धोबीघाट, सल्लाघारी र बालकुमारीमा फोहर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्रहरू निर्माणाधीन रहेको बताउनुभयो ।

उहाँले गुह्येश्वरी प्रशोधन केन्द्रको निर्माण ८० प्रतिशत पुरा भैसकेको जानकारी दिनुभयो । यी केन्द्रहरूमा ढल प्रशोधनका क्रममा बिजुलीका साथै ठोस फोहर उत्पन्न हुने र त्यसलाई मलको रूपमा प्रयोग गर्न सकिने उल्लेख गर्नुभयो । केन्द्रहरूबाट निस्कने प्रशोधित पानीको बहुआयामिक उपयोगमाथि प्रकाश पार्दै उहाँले त्यसलाई सिंचाइ र industrial cooling जस्ता प्रयोजनका लागि प्रयोग गर्न सकिन्छ भन्नुभयो । केन्द्रमा जडान हुने दुर्गन्ध न्युनीकरण इकाइका कारण दुर्गन्ध फैलिँदैन, उहाँले भन्नुभयोः सफा पानी नदीमा मिसिएपछि जैविक विविधता कायम गर्न मदत मिल्छ, पर्यटन प्रर्वद्धन गर्न सकिन्छ ।

कार्यक्रमको समापनका क्रममा खानेपानी मन्त्रालयका सचिव गजेन्द्र कुमार ठाकुरले मन्त्रालयले समयमै प्रशोधन केन्द्रको निर्माण सम्पन्न हुने अपेक्षा गरेको बताउनुभयो । उहाँले वायु, जल, माटो शुद्ध होस् भन्ने उद्देश्यका साथ मन्त्रालय अघि बढन चाहेको बताउनुभयो ।

The existing water distribution system of the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) has started supplying an additional 30 million litres of water per day (five days a week) in the Kathmandu Valley from August 18, 2018. This encouraging development comes at a time when the government is gearing up to supply Melamchi water, to be treated at the water treatment plant (WTP) in Sundarijal, to Kathmandu Valley denizens before this Dashain through a new distribution system.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Minister for Water Supply Beena Magar jointly fed the additional water, brought from the Bagmati river after treatment at the WTP in Sundarijal, into the existing distribution system at the KUKL branch office in Mahankalchaur at a ceremony attended by officials from the Ministry of Water Supply, subordinate agencies associated with the Melamchi Water Supply Project, journalists and members of the general public.

The additional amount of water will provide immediate relief to valley denizens at a time when the 27.6-km Melamchi Tunnel, which will convey water from the Melamchi river to the Sundarijal WTP, is nearing completion. KUKL-Project Implementation Directorate (PID) is working with the aim of supplying Melamchi water in the valley through a new distribution system after Melamchi water comes to the Sundarijal WTP upon completion of the tunnel.

As part of this preparation, PID is gradually commissioning the Bulk Distribution System (BDS) pipeline, which is a vital component of the new distribution system. It has already conducted flushing of the 11.05-km-long Sundarijal-Dhobikhola BDS section and plans to gradually flush and disinfect the remaining BDS sections before moving on to smaller pipelines.

Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited -Project Implementation Directorate (KUKL-PID) organized an inter-school drawing competition at Patan Dhoka-based Patan High School on 23 February, 2024. This program is one of the activities of the KUKL-PID under school awareness program. A total of 17 students from nine schools in Lalitpur participated in the drawing competition titled ‘Clean water for a safe life’. The participants of the program enthusiastically showcased their talents on the theme through their drawing skills. During the competition, Josef Kapali from the co-organizer, Patan High School, bagged the first prize. Similarly, Sushil Gajmer from Bholdhoka-based Shree Shanti Bidhyashram bagged the second prize, and Sonisha Prajapati from Natole-based Balbinod Secondary School bagged the third prize. Avash Chandra Shrestha from Kupandol-based Pragati Shikshya Sadan received a consolation prize. Likewise, participating schools and students received letters of appreciation and gift hampers.

खानेपानी मन्त्रालयका माननीय मन्त्री महिन्द्र राय यादवज्यू, श्रीमान् सचिवज्यू, सह-सचिवज्यू, आयोजना निर्देशकज्यू, ADB  का Country Country, लगायत अन्य पदाधिकारीहरु बालकुमारी स्थित फोहोर पानी प्रशोधन केन्द्रको अवलोकन गर्नु हुँदै

Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepaani Limited-Project Implementation Directorate (KUKL-PID) organized an inter-school speech competition on June 5 on the occasion of World Environment Day-2023. The competition was organized with an objective to spread awareness among school students about protecting environment by taking action towards plastic pollution reduction. The title of the speech competition was ‘Plastic pollution harms, let’s save the water’.

Shristi Gautam from Mid Baneshwor-based Ratna Rajya Secondary School bagged first prize, Anju Bhusal from Tripureshwor-based Viswa Niketan Secondary School bagged second prize and Ganesh Simkhada from Maharajgunj-based Shivapuri Secondary School bagged third prize. Similarly, Nirjala Satshankar from Bhaktapur-based Araniko Secondary School and Alok Shree Rijal from Viswa Niketan Secondary School received consolation prizes. Awardees received gift hampers, cash prize and a sapling for plantation.

During the program, Chandra Bhakta Bista, Team Leader, CASSC-03 welcomed the participants and shed light on the importance of organizing such programs while Pramila Bhandari, sociologist from PID hand over award certificates to the awardees. Similarly, Bidhya Bhandari from PID handed over a certificate of appreciation to the principal of Shivapuri Secondary School for their contribution as co-organizer of the program. A token of love and certificates of participation was also handed over to all participating schools and students.

During the program, the participants talked about the current scenario of plastic pollution with facts and figures as well as suggested all concerned to take necessary steps to beat plastic pollution. The program was organized at Shivapuri Secondary School. A total of 20 students from ten schools in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur had participated in the competition.

Project Implementation Directorate organised a press conference at the PID Hall, Anamnagar, on September 21, 2018. On the occasion, PID Deputy Project Director and Spokesperson Divakar Prasad Dhakal responded to questions from journalists and provided information about the status of construction of water supply and wastewater management infrastructure under Melamchi Subproject-02 as well as increase in the supply of drinking water with the feeding of fully treated Bagmati water into the existing distribution system.

 

ADB officials on November 1, 2017 visited the Balaju service reservoir tank as part of inspection of components of the Melamchi water supply project, together with PID officials, the contractor's and consultant's representatives. PID project director Tiresh Prasad Khatri, deputy project directors Himesh Anand Vaidhya and Divakar Prasad Dhakal, and Design and Supervision Consultant-5’s deputy team leader, engineer Nanda Bahadur Khanal, informed ADB officials about the status of construction work.

The ADB officials participating in the visit included Diwesh N Sharan, deputy director general, Office of the Director General at ADB’s South Asia Department; Mukhtor Khamudkhanov, country director, ADB Nepal; and Vivian Castro-Wooldridge, ADB’s urban development specialist (South Asia).

At a press briefing after the field visit, Sharan said though there is pressure for early completion of the Melamchi project, there should be no compromise on the quality of work.
Khamudkhanov said PID should closely monitor construction works. He stressed the need for interagency coordination. He said the project work needs to be completed on time, but there should be no compromise on quality of work. 

Castro-Wooldridge highlighted ADB’s role as a knowledge and development partner. She pointed the need to complete project works in a phased manner and added that ADB is committed to providing financial support for the project.

 

Kathmandu, October 29, 2017 
Under Melamchi Water Supply Project, the 27 km Tunnel, a Reservoir with 85 MLD water holding capacity at Sundarijal, the Bulk Distribution System (BDS) including 9 Service Reservoirs each with 50 cu.m capacity, 700 km Distribution Network Improvement (DNIs), and 85,000 taps connection are fast reaching their completion stage. As responsibilities of execution and operation are divided across a range of stakeholders, a thoughtful synchronization of key activities will be the key for the Project’s success.

A one-day workshop on risk management was organized by the Project Implementation Directorate on October 27, 2017 at Gokarna Forest Resort. The objective of the workshop was to (a) jointly assess and prioritize the inherent risks, and (b) start a process for the preparation of risk management plan for smooth commissioning of the Melamchi Project to ensure that water flows from the headworks to the citizens’ taps.

Participated by more than 40 sector professionals representing the Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation, Melamchi Water Supply Development Board, PID, KUKL, ADB, consultants and contractors, among others, the meeting jointly looked at the inherent emerging and future risks at different components of the Project such as the Source, Melamchi Tunnel, Water Treatment Plant, Bulk Distribution System and Service Reservoir Tanks, Distribution Network Improvement, Institutional and Management Readiness of KUKL including associated interface issues.

The workshop came up with a preliminary risk assessment and management plan to be finalized in the coming weeks, including an institutional structure to coordinate the plan implementation in a coherent and harmonized manner.

Project Implementation Directorate organised a coordination meeting with Kathmandu Metropolitan City and KUKL at KMC office, on October 23, 2017. The meeting held in the presence of Kathmandu Mayor Vidhya Sundar Shakya, PID Project Director Tiresh Prasad Khatri and KUKL General Manager Mahesh, among others, decided to prepare a detailed survey and design within four months for improving sewer management system in the Kathmandu Valley.

Kathmandu: The statue of Swar Samrat Narayan Gopal located at Narayan Gopal Chok, Maharajgunj, has been removed for the time being to facilitate water pipeline installation, in coordination with locals and concerned authorities. The statue of the music maestro will be reinstalled as per the design of ward authorities and in coordination with traffic police after completion of pipeline installation works.

 

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Nepal Resident Mission has acknowledged the performance of the project implemented by Project Implementation Directorate/Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (PID/KUKL). In a written letter to Finance Secretary Mr. Shanta Raj Subedi dated 12 January 2017, ADB mission stated that, "We would like to thank project directors/managers, relevant department and ministries for their strong leadership to address project implementation issues and enhance overall portfolio performance. We also recognize outstanding performance with dynamic and capable leadership, especially, in Melamchi Water Supply Project and Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Improvement Project (KVWSIP)."

PID/KUKL has fully mobilized its strength to accomplish the activities designed under project KVWSIP that aims to install new distribution network within Kathmandu Valley for the proportional distribution of water comes from Melamchi Drinking Water Project. Currently, the project is working in more than 40 sites of Kathmandu Valley where more than 1200 workers and technical/social staffs are mobilized round the clock.

The acknowledgement made by ADB NRM has enhanced the moral of entire dedicated team members of PID/KUKL including all especially consultants, contractors for their untiring efforts. Similarly, PID/KUKL expresses sincere thanks to all community people, TLO members, Utility Operators and media people who have provided valuable comments, feedbacks and supports in implementation of the project activities. We are expecting continuous support and cooperation from the stakeholders in coming days to accomplish our given responsibility. We believe, this acknowledgement will inspire each members of the team to work hard in coming days for the completion of large scale project like Melamchi Sub-project 2.

 

मेलम्ची आयोजना बारे सांसदहरुसँग अन्तक्र्रिया 
काठमाण्डौं, २२ पुुष

चीर प्रतिक्षित मेलम्ची आयोजनाकोको विभिन्न पक्षबारे काठमाडौं उपत्यकाका सांसदहरु र आयोजना कार्यान्वयनमा सरिक निकायहरुका बीच शुुक्रबार अन्तक्र्रिया सम्पन्न भयो । आयोजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालय, काठमाडौ उपत्यका खानेपानी लिमिटेडको आयोजनामा सम्पन्न कार्यक्रममा उपत्यकाका २१ जना सांसदहरु सहभागी हुनुहुन्थ्यो । 

यस क्रममा उपत्यकामा पानी वितरण तथा मेलम्ची आयोजनाका विभिन्न पक्षहरुका बारेमा छलफल भएको थियो । कार्यक्रममा काठमाडौ उपत्यका खानेपानी व्यवस्थापन बोर्डका कार्यकारी निर्देशक सञ्जीव विक्रम राणा, मेलम्ची खानेपानी विकास समितिका कार्यकारी निर्देशक घनश्याम भट्टराई, आयोजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालयका उप निर्देशक अनिल भद्र खनाल तथा केयुुकेएलका महाप्रबन्धक महेश भट्टराईले विभिन्न आयोजना र पानी वितरणका विभिन्न पक्षबारेमा जानकारी गराउनुुभयो ।

आउँदो २०७४ असोजभित्र मेलम्चीको पानी उपत्यकामा भित्र्याउने लक्ष्यसाथ काम भइरहेको छ । यसका लागि आवश्यक संरचनाहरुको निर्माण जोडतोडले भइरहेको छ । मेलम्चीको पानी सुन्दरीजलमा प्रसोधनका लागि निर्माणाधीन पानी प्रसोधन केन्द्रको कार्य पनि हाल ९६ प्रतिशत सकिएको छ । आायोजनाले मेलम्चीको पानी उपत्यकामा आउनु अगावै आगामी वर्षात्मा बाग्मतीको पानी सुन्दरीजलबाट नयाँ प्रणालीमा पठाएर परीक्षण गर्ने भएको छ । यसका लागि सबै तयारीहरु भइरहेको छ ।

उपत्यका भित्र पाइपलाइन विस्तार गरिरहेको आयोजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालयले वितरण प्रणाली संजाल सुधार कार्य अन्तर्गत कूल ६७० कि।मि मध्ये हाल सम्म ४८६।२९८ कि।मि सम्पन्न गरेको छ । त्यसैगरी थोक वितरण प्रणाली निर्माण कार्य तर्फ कूल ६०।६ कि।मि मध्ये हाल सम्म ३५।०२१ कि।मि सम्पन्न गरेको जानकारी गराएको छ । पानी पोखरी निर्माण कार्य तर्फ ६ वटा, कूल क्षमता ५०,००० घ।मी क्षमताका पोखरीहरुको निर्माण कार्य ७० प्रतिशत सम्पन्न भइसकेको छ । ती प्रणालीहरु आगामी असोज अगावै पुरा गर्ने तयारीमा कार्य भइरहेको छ । मेलम्चीको पानी नयाँ प्रणालीबाट घर घरमा वितरणका लागि कूल ८३,५७३ घरधुरीमा धारा जडान गर्नुपर्नेमा हालसम्म ३२,८७३ घरमा धारा जडान भइसकेको छ ।

कार्यक्रममा सांसदहरुले काठमाडौंमा पानी वितरणका विभिन्न पक्षहरुका बारेमा प्रश्न राख्नुुभएको थियो। अन्तक्र्रियाको क्रममा सांसदहरुले काठमाडौको चक्रपथ भित्र मात्र पानी वितरण नगरेर चक्रपथ बाहिरका क्षेत्रलाई पनि ध्यानमा राख्न आग्रह गर्नुभयो । उहाँहरुले मेलम्चीको पानीले उपत्यकाको पानी आपूर्ति पूर्ण रुपमा समाधान हुने नहुने बारेमा पनि जिज्ञासा राख्नुुभएको थियो । सांसदहरुले उठाएका प्रश्नका बारेमा प्रस्तोताहरुले जवाफ दिनुुभएको थियो । 

कार्यक्रमका सभापति खानेपानी तथा सरसफाइ राज्यमन्त्री दिपक खड्काले मेलम्ची आयोजनालाई चाँडो सम्पन्न गर्न हरसम्भव प्रयास गर्ने बताउनुुभयो  आयोजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालयका आयोजना निर्देशक तिरेश प्रसाद खत्रीले पाइपलाइनको कार्य गर्दा बढिरहेको धुलो नियन्त्रण गर्न विभिन्न कार्यहरु सुरु गरिएको बताउँदै खनिएको क्षेत्रमा तीन दिनभित्र अस्थायी रुपमै भएपनि सडक पुनर्स्थापनाको कार्य गरिन थालेको बताउनुुभयो ।

खानेपानी तथा सरसफाइ राज्यमन्त्री दीपक खड्काले अाज साेमबार (११ पुष) अायाेजना कार्यान्वयन निर्देशनालयकाे कार्यप्रगति बारे जानकारी लिनुभयाे । त्यस अवसरमा मन्त्रालयका सचिव भीम प्रसाद उपाध्याय तथा केयुकेएलका महाप्रबन्धक डा. महेश भट्टराइ पनि हुनुहुन्थ्याे । राज्यमन्त्री खड्कालाइ निर्देशनालयले गरिरहेका कार्यहरूको बारेमा अायाेजना निर्देशक तिरेश प्रसाद खत्रीले प्रस्तुति मार्फत जानकारी गराउनुभयाे । संक्षिप्त छलफलपछि राज्यमन्त्री खड्काले अायाेजनाकाे कामलाइ चुस्त र प्रभावकारी बनाउनुपर्ने बताउनुभयाे ।

 

17 November 2016. The Development Committee Members of the Legislature-Parliament (LP) have expressed satisfaction over the progress of much-awaited Melamchi Drinking Water Project.

The Committee has expressed this view after the observation visit of several construction sites being implemented by Project Implementation Directorate-PID/KUKL in an attempt to improve the existing distribution system within Kathmandu Valley.

The team led by President of Development Committee Mr. RabindraAdhikari visited Bulk Distribution System (BDS), Distribution Network Improvement (DNI), Service Reservoir Tanks (SRT) and Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and discussed about the progress of these systems and obtained the information about challenges and obstacles encountered by the project team.

The observation visit kicked off with project briefing at Committee Secretariat, Singha Durbar. During briefing session, Mr. Anil Bhadra Khanal, Deputy Project Director of PID presented the latest progress and informed the parliament members about the most difficult road sections where the supply network need to be established to supply the Melamchi water in Valley. Chabahil-Gaushala, Maharajgunj-Lagimpat-Tripureswor, Baneswor-Maitighar are some of the busy road sections where pipe laying works need to be carried out. Mr. Khanal also informed that PID has been working at night time also to minimize the disturbance caused by the pipe line work and has been working sincerely to reinstate the road as soon as possible.

Following short briefing, the team visited Tundikhel BDS site (Army compound) and observed the ongoing works. Similarly, the team observed DNI works at Kupandol and Shantinagar and obtained the information of progress and challenges. The team also observed the SRT at Khulamtar, Lalitpur which is designed to supply the water for Lalitpur and Koteswor area. The SRT has 9.5 million/l storage capacity which is almost completed. The team also observed BDS sites at TIA and Tilganga area and discussed with project team and contractors about progress.

The Parliament Members also inspected the WTP and Tunnel at Sundarijal, was briefed by Mr. Rama Kanta Dawadi, Deputy Executive Director of Melamchi Water Development Board. Mr. Dawadi informed the MPs that the construction of WTP with the capacity of 85m/l is almost completed. ''We have already completed 95% of the work of WTP and the remaining works will be completed before the completion of tunnel," he said.

Mr. Divas Shrestha, Resident Engineer of the Melamchi Project informed about the progress of tunnel on the occasion. Out of 27.7 km tunnel works, the project has completed the construction of 21.24km.

Following observation, President of Development Committee of LP, Mr. Rabindra Adhikari expressed his satisfaction over the progress made by PID for distribution system. "This is long awaited priority project which is most essential for the water supply in Valley, so we would like to encourage you to complete it as early as possible" Said Mr. Adhikari. He also made commitment with project team that the committee is ready to facilitate the problems, if any. He also announced that the committee in coming days will issue directives to the concern government ministry to award the contractors, if they complete the assignment before the stipulated time.

Project Director of PID Mr. Tiresh Prasad Khatri gave vote of thanks to the parliamentarians for their support and encouraging presence in the visit. "We have been working with strong commitment to supply water to the households in scientific and proportional manner. However there are many obstacles in establishing new supply network" he further said. "We are confident that we could manage the water coming from Melamchi project after 11 months for which we have been mobilizing our team round the clock".

Director General of Department of Road Madhab Kumar Karki and Director of Project Implementation Directorate Tiresh Prasad Khatri Signed MoU to reinstate road after pipe laying work for Melamchi Water project 

: Melamchi – Phase 2 in focus: ADB inspects vital infra Kathmandu, September 13, 2017 A review mission of the PPTA inspected different components of the Melamchi Water Supply Project on September 12, 2017. ADB NRM officials, accompanied by PPTA consultants and PID consultants, visited a number of places along the alignment of proposed Second Transmission Main (BDS-05) meant to supply 340 million litres of water per day to the Kathmandu Valley from Yangri and Larke rivers, increasing further the capacity of MWSP – Phase 1 (170 MLD). The team visited vital components of the project, including Chuchhepati Bifurcation Point, Gokarna Junction, Kolmati Junction and Sundarijal Water Treatment Plant.

Kathmandu

The Project Implementation Directorate organized a brainstorming session on the Melamchi Water Supply Project, in Kathmandu, on September 12, 2017, amid preparations to augment the flow to the Melamchi river by channelizing water from the Yangri and Larke rivers in view of increasing demand for drinking water in the Kathmandu Valley with assistance from the Asian Development Bank.

The participants included Secretary at the Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation Krishna Raj BC, Joint-secretary at the ministry Anil Bhadra Khanal, PID Project Director Tiresh Prasad Khatri, Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board’s Sanjeev Bikram Rana, Melamchi Water Supply Development Board’s Executive Director Ram Chandra Devkota, KUKL General Manager Mahesh Bhattarai, consultants’ representatives, ADB consultants Suman Sharma and Sanjay Adhikari as well as officials from ADB Nepal Resident Mission and Project Preparatory Technical Assistance.  

Agendas and decisions

Addressing the session, PID Project Director Tiresh Prasad Khatri outlined the agendas for the session: Mitigation of risks associated with Melamchi project commissioning and stakeholders’ role in mitigation measures.

On the occasion, ADB consultants Sharma and Adhikari, and other participants outlined a number of potential risks associated with commissioning. They included possible risks at the source, mainly dwindling of discharge in the river due to climate change, contamination of the river resulting from the construction of an access road and development of the area as a picnic spot, management of increased expectations of Melamchi Valley people, toxic threat, problem in purifying the river water, lack of a consumption-based tariff structure that may bleed the KUKL and possible loss of credibility resulting from delays in the project. The meeting also pointed at lack of clarity on who will shoulder post-project responsibilities, namely regular repair and maintenance of structures like the tunnel and the road, who will regularly repair and maintain these structures and how often, after project handover. At the same time, Sharma and other participants raised a vital question: Who will check the system and how often? The stress was also on providing training to a core group of engineers to run the project efficiently under the supervision of seniors.

MWSDB Executive Director Devkota highlighted the need for watershed management, both in terms of quality and quantity. He also stressed the need to maintain social harmony with Melamchi valley people.

Speaking at the session, MWSS Secretary BC said it’s time for KUKL to deliver. He said this is the right time for the project to gain/lose credibility. “When will Melamchi water come to Kathmandu? This is the question that I often face. It’s a tough question, difficult to answer.” He pointed that the ministry does policy intervention when there are hurdles. Secretary BC urged the project team to share mitigation measures with experts and improve the document.

The meeting decided that all parties shall submit the risk management plan with solutions at appropriate time after discussions.