The Melamchi water supply project started in 1998 AD with the aim of permanently solving the water supply problems faced by Kathmandu (Capital of Nepal) residents. Its main objective is to bring and distribute 170,000,000 liters of water per day to Kathmandu from the Melamchi River in the Sindhupalchok district. The starting point of this project is at Melamchi - Helambu. The water reaches the Sundarijal in Kathmandu through the tunnel from the Melamchi. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport is in charge of implementing this project. It operates under the autonomy of the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP).

Melamchi Drinking water supply in Kathmandu

The entrance to the tunnel is about 1416m high and the exit is about 1408m above sea level. The length of the tunnel between the inlet and the water purification facilities in the Kathmandu Valley at Sundarijal is about 26 km. This tunnel is the longest water supply tunnel in Southeast Asia and the second longest water supply tunnel in Asia. The tunnel is dug from the entrance galleries to Ambathan, Gyalthum, Sindhu, and Sundarijal waterfalls. Bypass flow in 6m3/s. The tunnel has a cross-section of 12.7m2, which is poured with sprayed concrete for almost all of the cross-section; lining concrete is done only in a weak rock base. The tunnel is dug by drilling and blasting methods. The geology of the area consists mainly of gneiss with layered mica schist and quartzite.

The distribution work included nine service tanks at different locations in Kathmandu (Mahankalchaur, Bansbari, Paani Pokhari, Balaju, Khumaltar, Arubari, Tigni, Katunje, and Kritipur). Water from Sundarijal to the service reservoir is provided by the bulk distribution system "BDS". Distribution to households through a pipeline network of approximately 670 km. Approximately 540 km of the sewer network will also be upgraded as part of this project. This project concept was developed to solve the problem of drinking water that the residents of the capital, Kathmandu have been facing for a long time.

Project Financing (donor)

This project has been operated since the past with the support of the Nepal government and various donors. This project is being implemented mainly with the help of the following donor.

  • Government of Nepal (GON),
  • Asian Development Bank (ADB),
  • Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),
  • Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC),
  • Nordic Development Fund (NDF)

The Melamchi Water Supply Project has made a commitment to spend the financial resources of this project by giving priority to four aspects in particular. These aspects are   

  • Infrastructure Development   
  • Social and Environmental Support
  • institutional reforms  
  • Project Implementation Support                                                                                    

Objectives

The main and only objective of this project is to bring pure and fresh water from the Melamchi River to Kathmandu and distribute it. During the operation of this project, various aspects such as community and environment have been affected. Keeping this in mind, the Melamchi water supply project has worked by creating three sub-projects. Which makes it easy for the affected parties to hear their demands.

Sub- Projects

Melamchi Valley Subproject [Sub- project (I)]:

Under this sub-project, there are physical, technical, road construction, tunnel construction, and maintenance aspects of the Melamchi area. And social development, job creation, education, health, etc. aspects of this area are covered.

Kathmandu Valley Subproject [Sub- Project (II)]:

In this sub-project, the parties from the Kathmandu side have been included. Construction of water treatment center in various places in Kathmandu, distribution methods, laying of pipes, water purification, maintenance etc. are under this.

Project Support [Sub- Project (III)]:

This sub-project plan includes aspects such as implementation, Administration, Supervision, and control. Similarly, it also includes public relations programs, an Environmental Management Plan, a groundwater monitoring program, PMU operations, social and environmental activities, and training provisions of incremental administration and operation costs.

Melamchi Tunnel Accident

  • Two employees died in an accident on June 14, 2020, while sending water to the project tunnel
  • On June 15, 2021, the Melamchi River flood damaged many structures of the project

Is Melamchi water project completed?

Most of the work of this project has been completed. And from Melamchi, the water is coming to Kathmandu Sundarijal through the tunnel. Some time ago, although Melamchi water was distributed in the streams of the households in Kathmandu, the water supply was stopped for some time after the rain (monsoon) reached the fields at the project site. Again, from December 2022, the water of the project is ready to be distributed in Kathmandu. But there is still a doubt that there will be continuous water distribution forever. Because again during the rainy season water distribution may stop.