Kathmandu, Jan. 11 : Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala inspected Tamraganga-Tilganga tunnel, built by the High Level Bagmati Area Sewerage Construction and Improvement Project Implementation and Follow-up Committee, here this morning.

The cost of the project, including the 435 metres long tunnel with 2-metre diameter, from Tamraganga (Guheswari) to Tilganga is estimated at Rs 89.3 million.

The project will keep the Bagmati river free from pollution and the sewage generated from a population of two hundred thousand will be collected in a tank at the project site where completely treated water will be funnelled into the Bagmati river while polluting agents will be diverted through the tunnel.

The entire cost of the project, launched five years back, is to be borne by His Majesty’s Government. China Sanyung International, a Chinese construction company, has received the contract for the construction of the tunnel.

Earlier, Prime Minister Koirala also inspected other programmes undertaken by the project.

At present, sanitation and management works under the project are being carried out in four phases.

The first and second phases are concerned with chalking out a master plan for cleaning of the Bagmati river from Shivapuri to Chovar, construction of drains, sewerage, sewage treatment centre and tunnel.

The third and fourth phases will involve construction of sewerage system and sewage treatment centre at various points from Tilganga to Chovar.