Newly-appointed physical planning and works minister Hisila Yami has said that the government will not privatise management of water utility of Kathmandu valley.

During her meeting with representatives from the Water and Energy Users’ Federation at her ministry on Wednesday, minister Yami said that she would work in cohesion with the policies of the government, adding, privatisation should not have been done.

The government has already decided to contract out Kathmandu valley’s water supply management to UK’s firm ‘Severn Trent Water’ and imposed an incremental water tariff structure.

Commenting on the Melamchi Drinking Water project, Yami said, she would rather focus on conserving Kathmandu Valley’s traditional water resources.

She further said that with state restructuring, population density in the valley would go down and available water sources would easily meet the needs of valley residents.

Meanwhile, state-run Drinking Water Corporation, which was padlocked by its employees for the last 90 days, was opened from Wednesday.

The agitating employees agreed to withdraw their agitation following talks with the government and after Minister Yami assured the agitating employees that the management of drinking water should not be privatised.

The agitating employees also reached an agreement with the ministry to set up a committee to control corruption.  Minister Yami, who represents the Maoists in the interim government, also assured of better salary and facilities to the employees.