Melamchi water supply to Kathmandu halted over unmet demands

Residents of Helambu Rural Municipality-1, Ambathan, along with local vendors and flood victims’ committees, have stopped the diversion of Melamchi drinking water to Kathmandu since Thursday afternoon, accusing the government of failing to fulfil past commitments and address their long-standing demands.

According to Jagarnath Das, executive director of the Melamchi Water Supply Development Board, locals blocked the water source, demanding that the agreement reached in October 2024 with the Ministry of Water Supply be implemented.

The protesting groups, including the Melamchi Flood Victims Struggle Committee, say that despite repeated assurances, the government has yet to resolve the grievances of those affected by the devastating 2021 Melamchi floods and landslides, which destroyed homes, farmland, and infrastructure along the river corridor.

Their key demands include:

• Construction of river embankments and protection of vulnerable settlements
• Loan waivers for destroyed homes and businesses
• NRs one million compensation for each deceased family member
• NRs two million housing grants for affected households
• Water levy facilities and income-generation programs for local flood victims

Even after last year’s tripartite agreement among the victims’ committee, Helambu Rural Municipality, and the Ministry, locals say the promises remain unfulfilled and the paper commitments have yet to translate into action.

The Melamchi water supply, which was suspended during the monsoon in mid-June, had resumed on October 12, but has now been halted once again.

Das said that efforts are underway to hold discussions with the protesting groups to find a resolution. Meanwhile, about a week ago, four committees from Sindhupalchok and Kavrepalanchok had padlocked the Melamchi Water Supply Office in Panipokhari, Kathmandu, as part of their ongoing protest campaign.

*With inputs from RSS