Government Faces Fresh Pressure as Melamchi Locals Halt Water Supply to Kathmandu

The government is once again under fire after residents of Helambu stopped the Melamchi Drinking Water Project’s supply to Kathmandu, accusing authorities of ignoring flood victims’ rehabilitation demands.

Members of the Melamchi Drinking Water Flood Victims’ Struggle Committee padlocked the project’s site office in Ambathan, Helambu-1, demanding implementation of past agreements. The committee’s vice-chair, Navaraj Guragai, said water flow will remain suspended until their concerns are addressed.

Locals have put forward 17 demands, including river embankment construction, housing support, debt relief, and compensation for flood-affected families. The Melamchi area, devastated by the 2021 floods, has seen multiple protests after government promises went unfulfilled.