Ramechhap Water Supply Project Only 50% Complete, Deadline Extended to October 12
20th September 2025, Kathmandu
The long-awaited Ramechhap Integrated Pumping Water Supply Project remains incomplete, with only 50% of the work finished despite its original deadline passing in June 2024.
Ramechhap Water Supply Project
The project, once hailed as a pride initiative for the district, has been delayed due to negligence by both the project office and the construction company.
Project Background
The agreement for the project was signed in June 2021, with a three-year completion target. The project was designed to provide safe drinking water to nearly 2,700 households in Sunarpani (Ward No. 5) and Salu (Ward No. 4) of Manthali Municipality, as well as Derali (Ward No. 2) of Ramechhap Municipality.
Funded by the Federal Ministry of Water Supply, the project has a budget of NPR 614.9 million, with local consumers contributing 1% of the cost nearly four years ago. The water is intended to be pumped from the Tamakoshi River and distributed through pipelines to the targeted households. Construction responsibilities were awarded to Sharma Sagun JV.
Current Status and Challenges
Despite the deadline being extended until October 12, 2024, progress has been sluggish. Reports show that:
Physical progress: 55%
Financial progress: Around 50%
Many of the pipes installed for water distribution have already rusted, and other structures remain poorly managed. Locals have raised concerns about wasted resources and the lack of urgency in completing such a crucial project.
Ward Chairman of Manthali-5, Rabin Karki, criticized both the office and the contractor for their negligence, emphasizing that drinking water is a sensitive and essential issue. Similarly, local resident Dhruva Subedi expressed disappointment, stating that unfinished and neglected structures have only deepened frustration among the community.
Assurances and Doubts
According to Rajendra Prasad Shrestha, head of the Federal Water Supply and Sewerage Office in Ramechhap, the contractor has assured that some stages of the project will start supplying water by mid-November 2024, with the entire project set for completion by March 2025. However, Shrestha admitted that there is no solid basis to trust this new timeline, given past delays and mismanagement.
Conclusion
The delay in the Ramechhap Water Supply Project highlights a recurring issue in Nepal’s infrastructure development—projects often face cost overruns, extended deadlines, and poor management. For the people of Ramechhap, the dream of receiving clean and reliable drinking water continues to be deferred, leaving them uncertain about when this vital service will finally become a reality.
For more: Ramechhap Water Supply Project
