Kathmandu. As many as 55 drinking water projects in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Gorkha have been affected by the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa district on August 26. According to the preliminary details of the projects damaged by the floods, the damage is estimated to be around Rs 64 crore.

According to the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management, 22 drinking water projects have been damaged in Nuwakot, which is the worst affected by the floods. According to the department, the loss of Rs 4.11 crore has been incurred in these projects alone.

According to Kamal Raj Shrestha, chief and director general of the department, 20 projects in Dhading, five in Gorkha and eight in Rasuwa have been damaged by the floods. The department said that the work of collecting details of the damage caused by the floods is still going on.

The department has forwarded short-term and long-term plans to immediately provide drinking water to the citizens in the areas where the water supply has been disrupted due to the floods. Director General Shrestha said that priority has been given to resumption the service and repair of damaged structures by using alternative sources in the affected areas.

A 100 KVA diesel generator has been brought into operation to facilitate the distribution of drinking water, especially in the affected areas of the Bidur Water Supply Project. According to the department, arrangements have been made to distribute about five lakh liters of drinking water daily through this generator.

Similarly, drinking water service has been restored to about 500 households in Battar area by bringing into operation seven pumps with a capacity of one HP. Director General Shrestha said that drinking water is being distributed to various settlements of Bidur and Battar through four tankers in coordination with Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL).

According to the department, necessary materials have also been managed to expand drinking water service in the remaining areas of Trishuli Bazaar, Belkotgadhi, Kolputar, Galchhi, Gajuri and Bidur. A total of 14 pumps, a 1,000-liter Hiltek tank and about 41.1 km of HDPE pipes have been kept ready for the expansion of the service.

According to the department, preparations are being made to expand the drinking water service by transporting and installing these materials in the affected areas. Technicians are continuously deployed to repair and rehabilitate the structures damaged by the floods and to ensure regular water supply in the affected settlements.

According to the department, long-term rehabilitation work has been taken forward along with immediate relief to prevent the shortage of drinking water after the floods. After receiving the full details of the damage, further reconstruction and rehabilitation programs will be carried out on the basis of need.