Kavrepalanchowk– The Panchkhal–Sunkoshi Water Supply Project has reached its final stage of construction, with about 99 percent physical progress achieved, according to the Project Office. The project is expected to benefit more than 31,000 residents of Panchkhal Municipality.
The project, which faced nearly three years of delay due to various reasons, was further affected by floods and landslides in Asoj last year that damaged major infrastructure. Drinking Water Consumers’ Committee Chairperson Kumar Lamichhane said damaged structures were repaired and reconstructed following the disaster.
Lamichhane said formal distribution of drinking water has already begun in the targeted settlements after water was collected in a 3.9-million-litre-capacity water treatment plant and overhead tank constructed at Panchkhal-9. Water is being supplied from the Sunkoshi River source, with 84 litres per second currently brought to the treatment facility.
The project is expected to come into full operation by the end of December. Infrastructure including wells and lifting technology has been constructed along the Sunkoshi River in Bimire, Ward 10 of Bhumlu Rural Municipality, to ensure a reliable water supply for Panchkhal.
According to the committee, the project is being completed at a cost of Rs 1.474 billion and will directly benefit 31,415 people from 6,037 households across wards 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of Panchkhal Municipality. It is estimated that each person will receive an average of 192.05 litres of water per day.
Project officials have projected that by 2040, the water supply system will serve up to 45,000 people as population and demand increase.
