MWSP: source of corruption?

The Himalayan Times

19 January 2024

The Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) was constructed with the objective of resolving the drinking water shortage in the Kathmandu Valley in a sustainable manner. Although, its concept paper was prepared during the Panchayat period, it got started in 1998 following the restoration of multi-party democracy in the country when NC leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai made a commitment and promised to bring Melamchi water to the Kathmandu Valley. Accordingly, the project started with funding by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japanese International Aid Agency (JICA) under the management of the Melamchi Water Supply Development Board (MWSDB). The project was to be have been completed by 2006.

Melamchi water was first distributed in Kathmandu in March 2021. However, water distribution was stopped after the flood and landslides at the project site causing major damages during the 2021 monsoon. Although the initial cost of this project was estimated to be Rs 17 billion, around Rs 27 billion has already been spent so far and it is still not in full operation. It was reported that rampant corruption, regular demands for commission by concerned officials and complicated bureaucratic process forced the Italian contractor to abandon the MWSP, throwing the national pride project into uncertainty for some time.Corruption in Melamchi is not just corruption, it is a crime against the people.

The Project aimed to supply 170 million litres of fresh water to the Valley on a daily basis. The recent inauguration of Melamchi drinking water by PM Dahal, for the fifth time “We only have one heart, how many times will govt win it?” (THT, Janaury16, Page 2), was nothing but a false promise “Melamchi water to be regularly distributed to Kathmanduities: PM” (THT, January 16, Page 2)). All former PMs had been saying that Melamchi water would run into their pipes for 20 hours daily, which has never materialised until today. The recent demonstration of the people in Kathmandu showing their dissatisfaction and frustration over the government’s inability to provide Melamchi water as promised should not be undermined.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj

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