One of the major donors of the multi-million dollar Melamchi Drinking Water Project (MDWP), Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said that the project could face a high risk of non-implementation if the concerned authorities are not able to facilitate an early implementation of the project.

The bank’s country chief, Dr Sultan Hafeez Rahman

The bank’s country chief, Dr Sultan Hafeez Rahman (File Photo)
The bank’s country chief, Dr Sultan Hafeez Rahman who is closely following developments in Sindhupalchowk, expressed serious concern over the obstruction that has occurred despite the changed situation in the country.

“If the authorities fail to pave way for the smoother implementation of the project, all that I can say is that the project could come under high risk (of non-implementation),” Dr Rahman said.

Dr Rahman was reacting on the latest development whereby the locals of Melamchi have launched yet another agitation to press for their demand of a “one-family-one-job” scheme.

The project has provided full compensation to properties acquired or affected during construction of the project’s main access road and adit access roads. A major Social Upliftment Program is also in place to benefit the locals.

“There are many features built into the project, sensitive to people’s demands. But people should sit and talk,” Rahman said, adding, “The project is not just for Kathmandu Valley, but also for Melamchi Valley. We are very sensitive to Melamchi people. But there must be a spirit of negotiation in a constructive manner.”

Melamchi is designed to pump 170 million liters of water daily from the Melamchi River to Kathmandu through a 26.5-km diversion tunnel to be built from Ambathan in Sindhupalchowk to Sundarijal in Kathmandu.

The project was supposed to be commissioned by the year 2006, while the revised plan has pushed the commissioning stage to 2011.