Melamchi’s Fifth Inauguration Raises Concerns: Mayor Balen Urges Technical Focus

Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah, commonly known as Balen, has raised serious concerns about Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s recent ‘re-inauguration’ of the Melamchi Drinking Water project. The distribution of Melamchi water to households in the Kathmandu Valley officially commenced today, following Prime Minister Dahal’s symbolic act of turning on the tap at the Singha Durbar office premises.

Post-inauguration, Mayor Balen Shah did not mince words in criticizing the re-inauguration ceremony. He emphasized the lack of consideration for potential risks and disruptions that could adversely affect the water supply to the valley. The Melamchi project, initially inaugurated in 2021 by then Prime Minister KP Oli and subsequently by then President Bidya Devi Bhandari, has now seen its official inauguration for the fifth time, with Prime Minister Dahal being the latest participant in the series.

Mayor Shah denounced the ‘drama’ of multiple inaugurations for the same project, pointing out the negligence towards technical risks that persist. He highlighted that Melamchi water, which faced disruptions a few months after its initial inauguration in 2021, is exposed to various risks, including landslides and sand blockages at the source and other project sites.

“The technical risks have been ignored. There is a risk of a landslide on the east side of the dam. The dam can burst at any time. By diverting water from the sandy area, the risk is simply shifted,” Mayor Balen added.

Expressing his willingness to cooperate in all aspects, including technical ones, Mayor Shah conveyed that the government needs to create a conducive environment for collaboration. He stressed the importance of addressing technical risks associated with the Melamchi project to ensure the long-term sustainability and reliability of the water supply to the Kathmandu Valley.

This criticism from the Kathmandu Mayor comes amidst ongoing efforts to improve water infrastructure in the region and raises questions about the effectiveness of the multiple inaugurations of the Melamchi Drinking Water project.