Govt faces blockade in performance: PM Oli

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli directed the agencies concerned to stop penalising consumers who were not getting water.

Addressing a programme organised by the Ministry of Drinking Water to officially distribute Melamchi water in the capital today, PM Oli said he was surprised to know that the consumers had to pay penalty without receiving water services.

"Such system should be corrected. It is not justice to take charge without providing service", the PM added.

PM Oli further directed the concerned agencies of drinking water, electricity and Nepal Telecom to work in tandem while constructing drainage.

Noting that the government has paid attention towards the country and the people, he pledged to bring in investment and technology for development works.

He said the parliament has become a bone of contention and suggested the parliament pay attention towards the country and the people.

The Prime Minister voiced his complaint that the government was not allowed to work in its capacity.

Meanwhile, PM Oli shared that Nepal came forward in the happiness index with the accomplishment of the post-earthquake reconstruction.

He also directed the Ministry of Drinking Water and Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee to work to bring Yangri and Larke water to Kathmandu at the beginning of 2081 BS.

As planned, the rocks of the cliff would be broken to supply water in the Kathmandu Valley from the two rivers by mixing into the existing tunnel.

After supplying water from the two rivers, Kathmandu will have some 510 million litres of water every day.

Likewise, in his video message, Minister for Drinking Water Mani Chandra Thapa said that the government was working to complete the construction of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project in time since the Constitution of Nepal has guaranteed drinking water and sanitation as the fundamental right of the citizens.

He pledged to distribute water to the folks through the new system soon.

Minister Thapa also recalled former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, and the people of Helambu and Melamchi of Sindhupalchowk for their contribution to make this happen.

Also speaking at the programme, Secretary at the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation Madhav Belbase said that system has been arranged to address the consumers' grievances that could appear in time of drinking water distribution.

He also said that the water from Melamchi would be distributed through an automatic system and informed that the preparations were on for the beginning of the second phase.

Likewise, Mayor of Kathmandu Bidhya Sundar Shakya took exception to the move of Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) for charging tariffs and penalty on the users though most of the households in the city were not provided with water.

Mayor Shakya, who is also the KUKL Board of Directors, urged the PM to issue a directive to implement the provision of no tariffs where the supply of water is not regular.

Similarly, he drew the attention of the KUKL to stop demolishing the roads of Kathmandu valley after its development from the Kathmandu Metropolitan City in the name of installing drinking water pipe.