March 28, 2024, Thursday

Re-test of Melamchi Project begins

Kathmandu,

By filling water in the 26.5 kilometer tunnel, the testing of the tunnel of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project has been started.

According to Officials, all necessary techinical and other preparation has done for the test. A formal program of the project site were organized at the Melamchi to conduct the test of a tunnel.

According to Spokesperson of the Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee, Rajendra Pant, the test was done in the presence of Mani Thapa, Minister for Drinking and lawmaker Sher Bahadur Tamang.

Due to a flood from the breakage of sluice gate (No. 17), a project engineer and a driver had died last year at Ambathan in Helambu while conducting a test run of water flow in the tunnel. After the incident, reexamination of the construction was done by the experts team in the construction works of the tunnel, water source, sluice gate and others.

Tiresh Khatri who is Executive Director of the Project said, “Experts inspected the construction works. It is ready now for the re-test after incorporating their crucial feedback.” He also added that this time they had paid more attention to reduce the incident like that of the past. And also there is a rescue team and helicopter set up in ready positon to rescuse if necessary.

According to Khatri, it may takes around 16 days to fill the water in the tunnel from Melanchi river to Sundarijal of Kathmandu.