KATHMANDU, Nov 7: Locals of Helambu Rural Municipality in Sindhupalchowk have diverted the Melamchi River back to its original course, effectively halting the supply of drinking water to the Kathmandu Valley through the Melamchi Drinking Water Project.
According to locals, a group of around 50 people reached the project’s remote headworks site at Ambathan—where water from the Melamchi River is diverted into the main tunnel—and redirected the river to its natural route on Thursday. The move has stopped the flow of Melamchi water to Kathmandu indefinitely.
Another group of locals also padlocked the project’s site office, barring employees from entering and suspending all official activities.
The protest was led by the Melamchi Water and Flood Victims’ Struggle Committee, which accuses the government of failing to implement a 13-point agreement signed with then Minister for Water Supply Pradeep Yadav on October 7, 2024.
Melamchi water Supply being halted in Kathmandu Valley from tod...
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“At least 50 people were present at the headworks and used excavators to divert the river to its original track, stopping water from entering the tunnel,” said Nawaraj Guragain, vice-chairperson of the Struggle Committee, speaking to Republica.
The agreement had committed to providing compensation for victims of the June 15, 2021 floods, which swept away dozens of houses, buried others under debris, and devastated settlements along both banks of the Melamchi River. The floods had also destroyed the project’s headworks at Ambathan, later reconstructed to resume water diversion to the Valley.
Locals, however, claim that the government has failed to compensate families who lost homes, land and livelihoods due to the disaster. “If the government continues to ignore our demands, we will launch an indefinite sit-in at the headworks. We are ready to set up makeshift tents and block the water supply until our voices are heard,” warned Tshiring Gyalpu Lama, secretary of the Struggle Committee.
The disruption has once again raised concerns over the long-term reliability of the Melamchi project, which has faced repeated interruptions since its inauguration due to floods, landslides, and disputes with local communities.
