Nepal, Kathmandu: water board to curb rampant groundwater extraction

The Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board (KVWSMB) is going to establish 30 monitoring centres throughout the Kathmandu Valley to curb rampant groundwater extraction. The centres, which are coming into operation by mid-May 2011, will monitor the quality and quantity of groundwater.

Both individuals and institutions that extract groundwater for commercial purposes will need to apply for a license from the KVWSMB after the monitoring centres are established. There are currently over 500 tubewells operating in the Kathmandu Valley. However, only 100 of them are registered at the board. Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) already extracts a large amount of groundwater from 70 tube wells and supplying the water to its consumers. According to KUKL, the daily water demand in the Kathmandu Valley at present is 320 million litres but the supply is only around 70 million litres in the dry season and 120 million litres in the wet season.

Source: Nagarik / NGO Forum, 30 Mar 2011

Nepal: anti-corruption authority slams water authority for tender irregularities

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has claimed that the Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) has committed irregularities in the supply and delivery of ductile iron pipes fitting and MS pipes. Issuing a press release, the CIAA has said while awarding the contract, the NWSC had not properly called the tender-bid.

It accused that the technologies used in the iron pipes were not of standard level. The Nepal Water Supply Corporation has not made any provision for making the registration of its tender-bid at the NWSC Butwal Branch and failed to open tender-bid at its central office. Moreover, the irregularities have also been seen after the period of bid validity and bank guarantee was extended. The task of purchasing pipes and fitting supplies too was full of shortcomings. So, the CIAA has directed the NWSC not to commit such mistakes while awarding tender-bids to the suppliers and make all its financial dealings transparent.

The CIAA is also investigating irregularities at Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL). Complaints have been filed at CIAA about the irregularities in water supply from the Bode Treatment Plant of the company. The investigation was started after the CIAA got information of involvement of chiefs of the company, branch office and distribution section for making unequal distribution of water through its different branches and supplying water in different areas after collecting money illegally.

KUKL staff are objecting to the appointment of former legal officer at the KUKL Hemraj Bhattarai as the CIAA investigation officer. They claim that many irregularities took place while Bhattarai was in office and that he could misuse the investigation to hide his own eventual wrong doings.

But, Chief Commissioner of the CIAA Lalit Bahadur Limbu told that the Bhattarai had been sent as a technical expert. “We have sent Bhattarai for monitoring as he knows about water supply systems,” said Limbu, adding, “If there are irregularities, there will be strong investigation.”

Source: The Rising Nepal / NGO Forum, 28 Oct 2009 ; Kantipur / NGO Forum, 27 Oct 2009

Nepal, Kathmandu: water bills, no water

Kathmandu: The customers on the payment defaulters list of the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) company have refused to pay up because they claim that they have not been receiving any water. They say that the company responsible for water supply services has tried to deceive the general public by making defaulters list public.

“Why to pay tariff when the tap has been dry for the past 25 years?” asked Gopal Kachyapati, proprietor of Kantipur Hotel, Durbar Marg which is on the defaulters list of KUKL. “We do not care if the company cuts off the connection that does not supply water anyway.” He accused the company of making public the due amount without proper calculation.

Not only Kachyapati, other consumers in Durbar Marg have similar complaints. “I have been using tanker supplied water and underground water for the past 25 years after the taps ran dry,” said Hari Manandhar, adding, “Many consumers have forgotten about having water supply connections in the area.” He told that he has not seen a single drop of water gushing out of his tap connection in the past two years. “I have been repeatedly requesting the company for the past many years to cut of my water supply connection,” said Kachyapati, adding, “It is an objectionable work of a responsible agency not to disconnect the line as requested but publicize the tariff dues.”

Kachyapati told that the company has neglected the repeated written applications from the entrepreneurs of Durbar Marg to supply water or cut off the supply lines. “It is not appropriate to show tariff dues of Rs. 0.25 million for 18 months of that tap which has remained dry for the past 25 years,” said Kachyapati, adding, “Not only drinking water but street lights and sewerage management is in disorder in Durbar Marg.” Works of sewerage management is being done by the ‘Durbar Marg Development Board’, which was formed after the KUKL failed to manage sewerage in Durbar Marg. All the customers on the defaulters list have claimed that their taps have been dry for the past 5 to 15 years. However, KUKL has denied the accusation that no water is being supplied.

KUK: spokesperson Rameshwor Shrestha said that KUKL has not forced the consumers to pay water bills without having water supply. He said the company would pay a rebate to those consumers who visit the company with the proof of no water supply.

“They are exaggerating some cases for to avoid paying the due and some are trying to get political backing for this,” said Shrestha. “If someone comes up with complaints of no water supply, we will fix the problem immediately,” he added.

Source: By: Arjun Subedi, Nagarik / NGO Forum, 30 Sep 2009

Nepal, Kathmandu: city faces worsening water crisis

Fetching drinking water is a daily ordeal for schoolgirl Sumitra Maharjan, who queues from dawn for hours to access a local public tap. “I often miss school, and this is badly affecting my studies,” said the frustrated 15-year-old, holding a blue water bucket and standing behind 100 other people.

However, Maharjan is luckier than some – she manages to get water at least once a day. A large number of residents in Kathmandu have not seen a drop of water from their taps for months. “My tap has been dry for the last six months. You can imagine the crisis we are facing,” said a local resident, Ramesh Gurung.

Most of Kathmandu’s drinking water comes from the Bagmati river system [...] however, the supply is insufficient for the city, which has a chronic water shortage. The government blames changing weather patterns [...] and a growing urban population.

“The water shortage is worsening,” said Rameshwar Shrestha, spokesman for the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepai Limited (KUKL), a government body responsible for supplying drinking water to Kathmandu’s two million people. In Nepal, rainfall has become erratic, and winters have become drier in recent years.

These factors affected the supply of drinking water both in and outside the capital, according to KUKL. Shrestha said there is a daily demand for at least 200 million litres in Kathmandu, but KUKL has only been able to supply 160 million litres.

Crumbling pipelines

The government has said that over 38 percent of the pipes are leaking, and it is often difficult to repair them due to a lack of funds, according to KUKL. But more than financial constraints, activists blame a lack of political will from the government to resolve the crisis.

“We have been warning about the impending water disaster for years, and now the crisis has reached its peak,” said Lajana Manandhar, convener for the Fresh Water Action Network (FAN) Nepal, a national network of NGOs lobbying for water and sanitation rights and policy.

Groundwater

For Kathmandu residents, the only alternative so far has been to extract groundwater. According to the NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation, over 60 percent of households are already doing this by using home-installed electric pumps. The number of users is growing, leading to concerns about the over-exploitation of groundwater.

“This resource will also dry out soon, because the depletion has already started with more people relying on groundwater,” Prakash Amatya, the director of the group, told IRIN.

The groundwater [...] level is sinking an average of 2.5 metres annually, according to the government’s Ground Water Resources Development Board.

Hopes pinned on water project

Aid agencies and the government agree that the only solution to the water crisis is to implement the long-delayed, [but now relaunched, US$317.3 million] Melamchi Water Supply Project.

“This is really badly needed, because Kathmandu as a city has a chronic water shortage,” Barry Hitchcock, country director for Nepal for the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is co-funding the project. “In four years’ time, when water starts coming out of the pipe, there will be a new water facility attached to that, and we will be in a better position to deliver water to the population,” he said.

Source: IRIN, 24 Sep 2009

Nepal, Kathmandu: water utility KUKL under scrutiny amid continuing water shortages

New accusations of irregularites are adding to the frustation of consumers in the Kathmandu Valley, where water company, KUKL, is not able to supply enough drinking water either through pipelines or by tankers.

First, Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) was not able to spend its allocated annual budget of Rs. 48 million meant for improving water supply infrastructure, and is now asking the government to reallocate the remaining budget in other areas such as voluntary retirement schemes. Earlier, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), which holds 30 per cent shares in KUKL, had raised questions about the utility’s extravagance on monthly “meeting allowances” and failure in delivery.

“KUKL is a total mess and is serving as a playground for donor agencies,” said Prakash Amatya, executive director of NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation, which has been advocating transparency, accountability and integrity in KUKL. “It is no wonder if most of the budget is spent on consultants’ salaries.”

Second, local residents in Kaldhara found out that KUKL staff had organised an unscheduled water delivery one day at midnight while only informing their relatives about it. Kaldhara residents get water only once every 5 days.

Third, former project staff and other government officials, including Former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, have been accused of unauthorised use of eleven expensive vehicles belonging to the Melamchi Water Supply Project. In some cases government registration plates have been replaced by private ones. Meanwhile the project is spending Rs. 0.3 million a month on hired vehicles for its consultants.

The Kathmandu Valley needs about 280 million litres of water daily but KUKL can only supply 150 million litres in the rainy season and 100 million litres in the dry season. About 200 tankers are needed to supply additional drinking water in the Valley but there are only 160 tankers available. Many private tanker operators, some of whom are suspected of supplying untreated surface water, are filling the gap.

Groundwater sources are also being depleted in the Kathmandu Valley, where groundwater levels are decreasing and handpump wells are drying up. KUKL has reported about a 15% decrease in water production from groundwater sources as well.

KUKL is preparing a two-year pre-Melamchi Drinking Water Project before the completion of the main Asian Development Bank-supported Melamchi Water Supply Project. KUKL has asked the government to allocate the Rs. 520 million in the coming fiscal year for the project.

KUKL is a private-partnership company set up in February 2008 to replace the Nepal Water Supply Corporation as a pre-condition to get funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the major donor for the Melamchi Water Supply Project.

Source: The Kathmandu Post / NGO Forum, 05 Jun 2009 ; Annapurna Post / NGO Forum, 04 Jun 2009 ; Bikash Thapa, Kantipur / NGO Forum, June 26, 2009 ; Dhana Khatiwada, Gorkhapatra / NGO Forum, 27 Jun 2009 ; Mahesh Chaurasiya, Kantipur / NGO Forum, 23 Jun 2009 ; Dinesh Karki, Nagarik / NGO Forum, 25 Jun 2009

Nepal, Kathmandu Valley: Pre-Melamchi Drinking Water Project planned

Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) is preparing for a pre-Melamchi Drinking Water Project. Considering the acute drinking water shortage in the Valley till the completion of the Melamchi Water Supply Project, KUKL is preparing for the project. KUKL stated that there will be additional supply of 75 million litres of water daily in the Kathmandu valley after the completion of the project. The KUKL has aimed to complete the project within next 30 months.

According to the project that has been named ‘Nakkhu Water Treatment Project’ will construct an intake having capacity of 328.6 million litres in the Nakkhu River near the Nakkhudole. By organizing a press conference on April 30 [2009],  KUKL informed that it has presented the action plan of the project to the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Water Resources and concerned areas for solving drinking water problem of the Kathmandu Valley.

Managing Director of KUKL Rudra Gautam told that the estimated cost of the project is Rs. 150 million [US$ 1.94 million]. Furthermore, the KUKL is preparing to bring additional water from Sundarijal and harvest rainwater in Dhobighat.

Source: Rajdhani / NGO Forum, 01 May 2009

Nepal: protests against water shortages in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur

Denizens of Kathmandu Valley and civil society members on March 17 hit the streets demanding regular water and electricity supply. Protesters threatened to launch stringent protests if their demands went unheard. Protesters said that extended power outage and irregular supply of drinking water have taken toll on their lives.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the government and concerned department, protesters issued a 15-day ultimatum to the government to address their concern. Addressing a mass at Kathmandu Durbar Square, Constituent Assembly member Nabindra Raj Joshi held government apathy responsible for water and electricity shortage and asked the people to hit the streets to pressurize the government.

Women of Bhaktapur staged a sit-in [with empty water vessels at] Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited [KUKL} branch on March 8, 2009 demanding adequate water supply with ease. The sit-in [was] called by Nepal Revolutionary Women Association Bhaktapur District Committee affiliated to Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party.

[The] drinking water problem is due to [a] decrease in water production with the onset of dry season. Kathmandu valley needs about 270 million litres of water daily but KUKL is supplying about 100 million litres of water daily. It has not rained in the Kathmandu Valley for the past six months.

Spokesperson of the KUKL Rameshwor Shrestha told that drinking water problem has turned severe in the Kathmandu valley due to excessive decrease in water production with the onset of dry season and the KUKL has not been able to add water sources. He told that the Kathmanduites had to face more water woes compared to the last year.

[...] The KUKL is preparing to produce drinking water by installing tube wells at six different places as drinking water problem is getting complex every year.

Source: Kathmandu Post / NGO Forum, 18 Mar 2009 ; Annapurna Post / NGO Forum, 09 Mar 2009 ; Krishna Kisi, Annapurna Post / NGO Forum, 12 Mar 2009

Nepal, Kathmandu Valley: fifty percent leakage in drinking water system, 20% community taps illegal

Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) {reported on 18 January [2009] that there is 50 percent leakage in Valley’s drinking water distribution system. Richard Austin, General Manager of KUKL said that {the age of the] pipelines is the major cause {as most of them] are 27 to 70 years old and some are even 100 years old.

KUKL stated that it cannot control leakages without improving {the] distribution system. Kathmandu valley needs about 230 million litres of water daily and KUKL is able to supply only 100 million litres daily.

[KUKL] stated [...] that community taps should be developed to [improve] the valley’s drinking water system. Austin told that KUKL is unable to supply drinking water regularly due to electricity load shedding. He added that KUKL is facing the problem of illegal taps [which constitute] 20 percent of all community taps in the valley.

Source: Annapurna Post / NGO Forum, 19 Jan 2009

Nepal, Kathamandu Valley: water tariff hiked

The Water Supply Tariff Fixation Commission (WSTFC) has decided to hike the water tariff in the Kathmandu Valley {as of 14 January 2009]. With this decision, the government can now [award] the tunnel construction contract of Melamchi Water Supply Project to the contractor company.

Now, those consuming up to 10,000 litres of water per month will have to pay Rs. 55. Earlier, the rate was Rs. 50 per month. For hotels, industries and other sectors where water is consumed heavily, the tariff has been increased by 30.76 percent. [...] The commission has decided to charge Rs 27.50 to each consumer, who consumes up to 5,000 litres a month and collect Rs. 1188 per month from the community taps. Earlier, the rate was 990 per month for the community taps. Similarly, the commission has decided to charge Rs. 1100 for 5,000 litres of tanker water and Rs. 1800 for 10,000 litres of tanker water. The commission has decided to charge a flat rate of Rs. 432 to those, who do not have a metered connection. Earlier, the rate was 360 per month.

The commission has directed the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) to install meters on those taps that do not have meters within a month. According to KUKL records, there are more than 30,000 consumers without meter connection in the Kathmandu Valley. KUKL has 160,000 consumers.

[A 30 per cent] tariff hike [was said to be] a {pre-condition] for the Asian Development Bank, chief investor of the Melamchi Water Supply Project. There was 15 percent tariff hike in 2004.

Source: Kantipur / NGO Forum, 14 Jan 2009

Nepal, Kathmandu Valley: water tariff hike likely

The Water Tariff Fixation Commission is likely to hike water tariffs by 10 to 30 per cent this week, even as the Kathmandu Valley continues to face a perennial shortage of water. Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), the public-private partnership utility responsible for the distribution of piped water in the Valley, had proposed hikes in water tariffs last week.

[...] The utility has proposed a 10 per cent hike in the water tariff for those, who consume 10,000 litres of water, and [a a 30 per cent hike for]  those who consume more than this quantum.

“The proposed hike does injustice to the urban poor. This will force them to pay three times more tariff than the rich or those who have private taps,” chief executive director of NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation, Prakash Amatya, said. “If the proposed tariff takes effect, the community tap users will have to pay Rs 205.80 for consuming 10,000 litres of water. This includes sewerage charge. On the other hand, private tap owners will have to pay only Rs. 82.50 for consuming 10,000 litres.

The NGO has also called on the authorities to prevent leakage [and to provide] subsidies to the poor.

Earlier, a KUKL official claimed the proposed hike tariff was in line with recommendation of Asian Development Bank (ADB), the main donor for Melamchi Water Supply project.

Source:  NGO Forum, 10 Dec 2008