Kathmandu. 55 drinking water projects in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Gorkha have been affected by the devastating flood that occurred on August 10 in Bhotekoshi river in Rasuwa. According to the initial details of the project damaged by the flood, it is estimated that the damage is worth around Rs 64 crore.
According to the Water and Sewerage Management Department, 22 water supply projects have been damaged in Nuwakot, which is the most affected by the flood. According to the department, there was a loss worth Rs 4 crore 11 lakh 50 thousand in those projects alone.
According to Kamalraj Shrestha, head and director general of the department, 20 projects in Dhading, five in Gorkha and eight in Rasuwa have been damaged due to floods. According to the department, the work of collecting detailed details of the damage caused by the flood is still going on.
The department has initiated short-term and long-term plans to provide immediate drinking water to the citizens in areas where water supply services have been disrupted due to floods. Director General Shrestha said that priority has been given to re-operating services and repairing damaged structures using alternative sources in the affected areas.
In particular, a 100 KVA diesel generator has been put into operation to facilitate the distribution of water in the affected areas of the Vidur Water Supply Project. According to the department, arrangements have been made to distribute about five lakh liters of drinking water daily through the generator.
Likewise, seven pumps of one HP capacity have been brought into operation and water supply service has been resumed in around 500 households of Battar area. According to Director General Shrestha, drinking water is being distributed to different settlements of Vidur and Battar through four tankers in coordination with Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Limited (KUKL).
According to the department, the materials needed to extend the water supply service to the remaining areas of flood-affected Trishuli Bazar, Belkotgarhi, Kolputar, Galchi, Gajuri and Vidur have also been managed. A total of 14 pumps of 2 HP and 1 HP capacity, 1000 liter capacity Hilltech tank and about 41.1 km of HDPE pipes have been kept ready for service expansion.
According to the department, preparations are being made to expand the water supply service by transporting and connecting the material to the affected areas. The technical team has been continuously mobilized to repair and re-establish flood-damaged structures and ensure regular water supply to the affected settlements.
The department said that the long-term re-establishment work has also been advanced along with the relief at the time to prevent water shortage after the flood. It is said that after receiving the complete details of the damage, additional reconstruction and re-establishment programs will be conducted based on the needs.
National News Committee is the official news organization of Nepal.
