Baluwatar Bans Plastic: Prime Minister Balen Shah Directs Switch to Melamchi Drinking Water

21st June 2026, Kathmandu

In a major symbolic and environmental directive, Prime Minister Balen Shah has ordered an immediate halt to the use of plastic water bottles at the official prime ministerial residence in Baluwatar.

Baluwatar Bans Plastic Prime Minister

The executive order mandates that the official residence transition entirely to the direct consumption of piped Melamchi drinking water.

The directive is part of the administration’s broader push toward waste reduction and infrastructure accountability, setting a benchmark for federal offices across Nepalese ministries.

Technical Preparations Underway at the Official Residence

Following the Prime Minister’s executive instructions, relevant municipal and federal water agencies have launched rapid coordination efforts to overhaul Baluwatar’s internal plumbing networks.

A specialized technical team has already completed an initial structural inspection of the residence to prepare for the transition. The comprehensive rollout involves three distinct operational phases:

Water Quality Testing: Rigorous laboratory analysis of incoming water to ensure absolute chemical and biological safety at the main valves.

Pipeline Inspections: Modernizing and flushing the older internal pipe infrastructure of the residence to prevent external contamination.

Tap Management: Installing dedicated, filtration-supported public-system taps designed for direct, glass-to-mouth consumption.

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Triple Impact: Eco-Friendly, Cost-Effective, and Public Trust

The sudden shift away from commercial plastic jars and single-use bottles addresses long-standing fiscal and ecological concerns within state-funded operations. Government planners emphasize that the move carries a deep three-tier advantage:

Key Strategic Goals

Reducing Plastic Waste: Cutting down thousands of kilograms of single-use plastic waste generated annually by high-level state functions and administrative meetings.

Lowering State Costs: Eliminating recurrent, high-volume procurement costs associated with purchasing premium commercial bottled water for public offices.

Boosting Institutional Confidence: Encouraging nationwide faith in Nepal’s public utility assets by showing that the country’s top leadership relies on the same municipal supply as standard households.

Melamchi Water: Meeting National Purity Benchmarks

The Melamchi Water Supply Project has historically faced public skepticism regarding consistency and purity during regional distribution grid transitions. However, project engineers and health officials clarify that the primary supply itself remains pristine.

“Regular, thorough testing of Melamchi water is continuously conducted at the treatment facilities. The water consistently meets all required national drinking purity standards. Ensuring its safety at the consumer level is purely a matter of maintaining clean local distribution networks and tap systems.”  Kathmandu Water Utility Representative.

By substituting commercial bottled items with public utility lines, the administration aims to prove that Nepalese civic infrastructure can match international environmental standards when backed by consistent maintenance.

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