Melamchi water wash Kathmandu roads

One can say its a ‘cursed’ project but it is no different from any other projects of the country, and is quite common phenomenon Nepal, after 30 years Kathmanduites are yet to get the chance to drink the Melamchi water.

After a lots of dilemma the project was preparing to distribute the water, bursting of the pipe of Melamchi Water Project in Lainchaur today hit the plan and caused inconvenience to the regular traffic and pedestrians.

Former Prime Minister late Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, one of the founders of the Nepali Congress (NC) would have been happy to see the Melamchi water flooding Lainchaur road, as he, one of the dreamers of Melamchi Water Project, wanted to wash the Kathmandu roads with Melamchi waters. He was mocked by the opposition then, and Melamchi Water Project is mocking Nepalis even today.

The leakage in the pipes later led to burst in the afternoon and flooded the Lainchaur roads, confirmed, spokesperson at the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Ltd (KUKL) Prakash Kumar Rai.

The pipe of the Melamchi project, which was laid under the main road near the Department of Mines and Geology,  burst, causing the road to collapse, and resulted in heavy traffic. Pedestrians have also been affected badly.

“As we got the news, we have closed the water supply to the area,” he said, adding that the reason for the burst is due to a lack of proper testing of the pipe before the water supply was resumed. “Those pipelines should have been tested, before the water supply was done.”

But he was unable to clarify, who should have tested the pipelines, and who failed their duty leading to the mockery of the mega project. But he claimed that the KUKL had started distributing drinking water supplied by the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, temporarily, to the Kathmanduites from Friday, four days ago.

KUKL annuls contract with a Chinese company

Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Ltd (KUKL) has annulled a contract with Safbon Water Service (Holding) Inc (SWSHS), Shanghai, as the construction company failed to perform according to the contract.

The KUKL had awarded the Chinese company SWSHS with a contract to construct water purification plants in Sallaghari of Bhaktapur and Balkumari and Dhobighat of Lalitpur in 2017 January. It had agreed to construct processing plants to purify 68.70 million liters of contaminated water every day in two-and-a-half years. But the Chinese company failed to complete its task despite a number of extended deadlines. As of the latest revision, the company was supposed to complete construction of the structures by last July, a press note issued by the KUKL reads.  

The SWSHS has completed only 27.1 per cent of the construction work in five years and three months’ period, the press note reads, adding that the company has also not been able to deploy adequate numbers of workers at the site, failing to renew the insurance policy and ignoring the guidelines of the authority, according to Project Implementation Directorate of KUKL.

The Chinese company was awarded the contracts for an estimated cost of Rs 3.92 billion. But the company has received payment of Rs 772.70 million over the period. According to KUKL, it scrapped the deposit amount of Rs 490 million maintained by SWSHS as the company failed to comply with the signed agreement.

Melamchi resumes water supply to Kathmandu from today

Melamchi Project has resumed to pump water to the Kathmandu Valley from today.

The supply of water from Melamchi River in Sindhupalchowk to the Kathmandu Valley was disrupted after major floods and landslides in Sindhupalchowk some 10 months ago.

Minister for Water Supply Umakanta Chaudhary inaugurated the distribution of drinking water from the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Ltd (KUKL) branch office at New Baneshwar.

The mega project funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) that promised to quench the thirst of Kathmandu Valley was damaged by the devastating flood on 15 June, 2021. The flood damaged head works of the project obstructing the water supply that was just started few weeks ago. 

The water distribution in the Kathmandu Valley has resumed today after the reconstruction of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, the KUKL confirmed.

Minister Chaudhary had started the transfer of water from the head works of the project to the tunnel on April 12. Then, the water was purified at a treatment plant in Sundarijal before sending to 10 reservoir tanks of KUKL.

From today, the drinking water is being distributed to the Valley houses through pipes. But the water supply could be again halted when the rainy season starts, though the KUKL has claimed to have prepared the alternative to supply the drinking water. However, it seems a far fetched idea.

The Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) have targeted to distribute some 270 million liters of water on a daily basis. Of the amount, some 100 million liters will be supplied through the distribution mechanism of the KUKL, while the rest of 170 million liters will be supplied from MWSP.

Front today, the households connected to the water pipeline system in all the locations inside the Ring Road area will receive the water supplied jointly by the MWSP and the KUKL. Likewise, the water is supplied also to the locals of Kirtipur and Madhyapur, Bhaktapur from today.

It took two decades to reach Melamchi water to Kathmandu valley

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari today inaugurated Melamchi Water Supply Project, the most awaited project by Kathmandu denizens since more than 20 years, by opening the tap at a programme at Brikutimandap in Kathmandu. The tap water was supplied through facilities of the Melamchi Water Supply Project, according to a press note by JICA.

JICA has been one of the major development partners of Nepal to implement the Melamchi Water Supply Project by constructing the 85 million litter par day (MLD ) Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at Sundarijal, the press note reads, adding that since March 2001, with signing the Loan Agreement amounted 5.49 billion JPY between the government and JBIC1, to construct the WTP, the project faced several disruption until it was substantially completed in December 2017. Even after its substantial completion, the Water Treatment Plant had been awaiting the water from melamchi diversion tunnel for its full operation. "The Water Treatment Plant is the largest water treatment plant in the country equipped with modern technology and database system." 

Components like SCADA system are some of the salient features of the Water Treatment Plant.

Completion of major infrastructure of the project would bring additional 170 MLD water to Kathmandu valley. Since current supply of water is considered 91 MLD in average considering the loss, the Melamchi Project will dramatically improve water supply in Kathmandu Valley with fulling the huge gap of water supply services provided by the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), the sole water utility of the capital city.

President Bhandari inaugurating the project at the presence of high dignitaries from government agencies, development partners including chief representative Yumiko Asakuma, remembered the then Prime Minister Krishna Prasad BHattarai, who pushed the project to implementation.

Not only the financial support to construct facilities, JICA is providing technical support in strengthening the capacity of KUKL in order to effectively operate and maintain the newly constructed facilities of the Melamchi Water Supply Project.

JICA asserts its firm belief that with strong and self-reliant leadership of Nepal, the water supply sector of the country will observe significant improvement, and it commits its continuous support for social development sector of Nepal.

Kalanki-Maharajgunj section of Ring Road expansion to start from January

China will start the second phase of Ring Road expansion works from January, according to the head of Ring Road Expansion Project Amrit Mani Rimal.
The Department of Roads (DoR) is currently clearing the site along the Kalanki-Maharajgunj section of the Ring Road to make it easy for construction that is aimed at easing traffic congestion across the Kathmandu valley.
After the site clearance, the Chinese government will start the construction by appointing a contractor as it is funded through Chinese assistance.
The site clearance has been started and is expected to be completed by December at a total cost of Rs 1 billion, he said, adding that trees are being cut and relocation of electricity poles, drinking water pipes, sewage lines and other infrastructure is also being carried out. “Altogether over 2,060 trees will be cut in the Kalanki to Maharajgunj section.”
Relocation of electricity poles, sewage lines and drinking water pipes are ongoing as the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Ltd (KUKL) have started to remove their respective structures lying on the right of way of the road.
“After the department clears the site by December, the Chinese contractor company will mobilise the necessary manpower and equipment for construction from January,” Rimal added, “Though, the department is currently facing some problems in clearing the sites in Swayambhu, Thulo Bharyang and Maharajgunj as the locals are creating disturbances.”
The first phase of the Ring Road construction – from Koteshwor to Kalanki, which was formally handed over to the government last year – is, though, yet to be completed and is still under criticism for its design, the government had approved the detailed engineering design and detailed project report for execution of the project.
According to the design, the 8.2-km-long stretch will be widened to 60 metres and will comprise an eight-lane road along with additional six-metre-wide lanes on both sides of the road for easy pedestrian movement. The road stretch will be divided by the divider for safety.
“The department has improved the design of the Kalanki-Maharajgunj section compared to the Koteshwor-Kalanki section due to much criticism regarding pedestrian safety,” Rimal said, adding that two underpasses, a flyover and 10 overhead bridges will be built along Kalanki-Maharajgunj section.

Stop politicisation of development projects: ADB

One of Nepal's important development partners has asked the government to stop politicisation in development activities.
Addressing the first Tripartite Portfolio Review Meeting (TPRM) of the year 2017 country director of ADB Nepal Resident Mission Kenichi Yokoyama today asked the political parties to refrain from or abandon "the practice of so-called 'bhagbanda' – division of spoils – by all means, to ensure timely project execution."
Saying that the ADB-funded projects have shown notable improvement in the year 2016, he attributed the success to project readiness, project leadership and human resources, procurement, contract management, safeguards, and addressing complex local issues. "Nevertheless, we must also say that the progress is just half way through, compared with our target of making annual execution – contract awards and disbursement – at par with annual lending – new commitment – level of $300 million in recent years,” he said, highlighting the critical importance of having competent project directors.
"Specifically, there is very high correlation between the strong project leadership and the performance of the project, ie, project performance is stronger where it is led by a competent project director," he added. "The rapid progress of flagship projects such as Melamchi and SASEC power and transport projects are testament to this."
He also asked the two-day TPRM to discuss and agree on critical issues related with high-attention projects, like ensuring timely completion of the Melamchi and Kathmandu water distribution projects to deliver water to Kathmandu by October 2017, while advancing reforms of Kathmandu Uptyaka Khanepani Ltd (KUKL) and addressing environmental concerns and bringing the problem projects like Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) that is under deep trouble despite urgency of completing the works amidst heavy air traffic congestion, back on track; among others.
In 2016, ADB's Nepal portfolio's financial performance in terms of contract award totaled $359 million and disbursement totaled $202 million, both highest in ADB's operational history in Nepal.
"Enhanced readiness of new projects and strong project leadership in some projects has contributed to this achievement," DDG at the ADB South Asia Department Diwesh Sharan said on the occasion.
ADB's portfolio in Nepal is growing; and as of end 2016, cumulative assistance, since its operation in 1969 in Nepal, stands at $4.9 billion and the active net portfolio stands at almost $2 billion for 34 investment projects. "Clearly, Nepal's portfolio performance has improved. However, challenges remain," he said, adding, "Of the active portfolio, 44 per cent or $883 million is uncontracted and $1.3 billion remains undisbursed."
It is the lowest as a percentage of the active portfolio (66 percent), and compares well with the ADB average (for 2015) of 44 per cent and 64 per cent, respectively, he added.
The corresponding contract and disbursement ratios were 30.5 per cent and 16.1 per cent, respectively. "However, given the pending amounts to be committed and disbursed, we are all here to collectively and very specifically, identify the issues project by project, and agree on actions to improve project implementation," Sharan added.
Nepal's performance has improved steadily in recent years but challenge remains, he said, asking stakeholders to focus on efforts to ensure higher readiness, further improvements in procurement documents and evaluation scrutiny, stringent contract management to contain high implementation and fiduciary risks, and sound safeguard management, including environmental management, such as dust control.
Likewise, he also highlighted the slow progress of some of the flagships projects, including Earthquake Emergency Assistance, Tribhuvan International Airport, Gautam Buddha Airport, SASEC Power and Road. Though Melamchi Water Supply Project is expected to deliver water to Kathmandu by October of this year, he asked the bank's officials to very closely monitor the progress and measures to accelerate as needed, to ensure target can be met for this much anticipated major accomplishment.
Addressing the programme, as the chair of the inaugural session, finance secretary Shanta Raj Subedi said that the better performance does not happen by accident. Asking the development partners to join hands with ministries in monitoring the projects, he asked ADB officials to brainstorm for two days and bring out doable solutions to expedite the projects.
Likewise, chief of International Economic Cooperation and Coordination Division of the Finance Ministry Baikuntha Aryal, listed some of the problems including project readiness, procurement problems, weak implementation capacity, lack of interagency coordination, resource constraints, social and political issues, project reports, monitoring and supervision, and also problems with development partners as factors that have hold the development projects back.

ADB to finance 2nd phase of Melamchi project

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed willingness to finance the second phase of the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) after the first phase concludes in October.
Addressing journalists in Kathmandu today, ADB vice president Wencai Zhang said that on the basis of the advancement of the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Ltd (KUKL) reforms to become customer-oriented water provider, ADB was ready to extend assistance for the second Melamchi project to extend tunnel to the Yangri and Larke rivers to further augment water supply from the tunnel from 170 million liters per day (MLD) to 510 million liters per day. "This will make possible continuous supply of water to people in Kathmandu Valley, 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he added.
Zhang, who is currently on a 3-day official visit to Nepal, also acknowledged the progress of the Melamchi Water Supply Project and Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Improvement Project that are likely to start delivering Melamchi water in October 2017, and agreed on maximum mutual efforts to complete the project in time.
In this connection, both sides also agreed on expediting institutional strengthening of the KUKL including the restructuring of its board and implementation of the roadmap prepared by its management, such as ICT-based automated water distribution and billing, and deployment of middle managers and additional technical staff, he added.
Zhang also renewed ADB's commitment to support Nepal to prepare long-term socio-economic development vision, strategy, and economic transformation programmes toward achieving its goal of becoming a prosperous middle income country by 2030.
He conveyed readiness to support critical regulatory and institutional reforms in energy sector, and associated investments such as Dudhkoshi Hydropower Project (300 MW), and modernisation of electricity distribution systems in the Kathmandu Valley.
Zhang also participated in the Nepal Infrastructure Summit 2017, organised by the government and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) yesterday. He delivered speeches in its opening plenary attended by Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal, and a business session on enablers for accelerating infrastructure investments chaired by minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Ramesh Lekhak.
He is scheduled to visiting the site of Tanahu Hydropower Project in Tanahun district, and a dairy plant assisted by an ADB-funded livestock project in Kaski district tomorrow.
During his visit, Zhang also met with deputy prime minister and finance minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara, and other senior officials to discuss the overall direction of development partnership between the ADB and Nepal.
"The ADB stands ready to support Nepal in its aspirations to become a prosperous middle-income country by 2030 while achieving the Sustainable Development Goals," he said, commending that the much improved project implementation performance in 2016, achieving $358 million contract award and $201 million disbursement, both highest in ADB's operational history in Nepal, thanks to enhanced readiness of new projects and efforts to build implementation capacities including faster and more disciplined procurement and contract management.
"ADB has allocated for Nepal $843.8 million for 2017-2019," he added. "A further $356 million can be made available over the period for projects contributing to regional cooperation and integration and reduction of disaster risks and fragility, provided that Nepal continues to improve its performance of its ongoing projects."
Zhang is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, minister for Water Supply and Sanitation Prem Bahadur Singh, energy minister Janardan Sharma and vice chair of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha tomorrow.