June 3, Kathmandu- The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has stated that the Melamchi drinking water tunnel will be repaired. The water supply will be reduced for two months as the tunnel will be repaired from June 14 to August. According to the ministry, alternatives are being sought to prevent the shortage of water supply in the valley.

"Like last year, we are preparing to send the treated water from the Bagmati water treatment plant," said a senior official of the ministry. The official said that instructions have been given to make alternative management. The officials said that the Melamchi Drinking Water Project has treated more than 30 million litres of water daily from Bagmati and sent it to the homes of the consumers during the three months of rains since last year.

The Melamchi Drinking Water Project has started distributing 170 million litres of water daily since March. The project, which started from Rs 45 million on March 28, had started distributing water. After that, it has started distributing 170 million litres of water.

Chief of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project Ram Kumar Shrestha said that regular maintenance was needed as the tunnel was new. "There is no problem," he said. "It needs to be repaired a month in advance. It's too late. We're repairing it as soon as possible." However, he said that so far nothing has gone wrong with the project. Stating that Melamchi water is being sent to various places at present, he said that there will be no shortage of water in those places.

He said that water is being distributed through distribution centres including Min Bhawan, Khumaltar, Anamnagar, Balaju, Maharajgunj, Bansbari and Mahakal. Stating that the construction of water ponds in different places of Kathmandu has reached the final stage, he said that the work of cleaning the pipes is also underway.

Executive Director of Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) Milan Shakya said that water is being distributed to the houses of 1,051,000 customers. Stating that there will be no shortage of water, he said that water will be supplied through an alternative process.