KATHMANDU– At a time when construction of Melamchi Drinking Water Project and expansion of Ring Road are approaching to conclude soon relieving people from foggy dust particles in Kathmandu Valley, the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage (DWSS) is preparing to dig roads to install sewerage pipes.
Due to the lack of coordination among various government agencies on development works, people have suffered from dusty air during sunny days and muddy roads during rainy days. The DWSS has planned to install 10 projects of sewerage pipes including six in Kathmandu, three in Lalitpur and one in Bhaktapur that will begin from the fiscal year 2018/19.
“These 10 projects will begin from next fiscal year,” said Tika Chaudhari, chief of management section of DWSS. “The roads will be dug to work on these big projects,” said Chaudhari.
In the next fiscal year, the projects will begin at Kirtipur Municipality, Budhanilkantha Municipality, Tokha Municipality, Tikathali Municipality, and Ananta Lingeshwor Municipality from the coming fiscal year. “These projects will continue for five years,” said Chaudhari. According to the government officials, the projects to keep the electricity supply wires underground will begin in Kathmandu Valley within a few years.
The problem has continued due to lack of sustainable plans of the government while working on development projects, said environmental expert Bhushan Tuladhar. “There is lack of coordination between the government bodies while working on sewerage, drinking water and electricity supply as well as telecommunications,” he said.
Nepal’s Constitution 2015 (30) has ensured rights of people to live in healthy and fresh environment. However, the government has violated the spirit of the constitution during the development activities. According to a 2016 report carried out by Global Burden of Disease, people of Nepal are losing their life due to air pollution every year.
