Kathmandu. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Urban Development Kulman Ghising has urged Helambu rural municipality to take necessary initiatives to remove obstacles surfaced in source area of Melamchi Water Supply Project.

Minister Ghising on Monday urged Helambu Rural Municipality Chair Nima Gyaljen Sherpa to take necessary initiative and support to resolve the problem after the supply of drinking water to Kathmandu Valley was halted due to the closure of the source by the project affected people, demanding implementation of past agreements.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Monday directed the government to resolve the problem seen in the Melamchi drinking water system. Prime Minister Karki is currently looking after the Ministry of Water Supply.

Saying the government was ready to resolve the past agreements and demands put forth at present through talks and discussions, Minister Ghising urged the government to become serious about the problem of drinking water crisis in Kathmandu Valley with the stoppage of water from Melamchi. He added that the government was effortful to supply drinking water to the Kathmandu Valley at the earliest by resolving the problem.

Helambu Rural Municipality Chair Sherpa said the government should implement the agreements reached in the past. He also demanded payment of land and house rent taken by the project, construction of road from Melamchi Bazaar to Melamchi Ghyang and 25 per cent of the amount of water to be supplied to Sundarijal after diversion of the Melamchi River for the development of Helambu rural municipality.

The Melamchi Drinking Water Flood Victims Struggle Committee, Helambu Rural Municipality and representatives of the political parties active in the rural municipality had reached an agreement with the then Water Supply Minister on October 21, 2081.