Unfortunate Indications
The recent developments show that Melamchi may be going the Arun III way
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
The Norwegian government has withdrawn its support from the multi-million dollar Melamchi Drinking Water Project raising fears of yet another Arun III-style debacle in Nepal ’s infrastructure development project.
While the Arun III project was cancelled due to various types of oppositions from politicians, civil society and environmentalists, the Melamchi is facing similar fate due to developments in the aftermath of February 1 royal step.
“The decision has been made to terminate, with immediate effect, the bilateral agreement on financial support for the Melamchi Water Supply Project,” Norwegian ambassador Tore Toreng said in a press statement on July 20. Norway even cut its assistance to Nepal in 2006 by 10 percent citing setback to democratic process since February 1 royal move.
The total estimated cost of Melamchi project is $ 464 million. The Norwegian government had agreed to provide $28 million grant for the construction of 20 km tunnel for Melamchi. The project is financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and co-financed by Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Swedish International Development Cooperation Authority, Nordic Development Fund, the OPEC Fund and the Government of Japan.
The latest Norwegian decision has come along with another development in the Melamchi case. Even as the Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) is investigating the charges of irregularities in the Melamchi project and has arrested former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, the major donor supporting the project has rejected the allegations.
The Integrity Division Investigation of the Office of the Auditor General (OAGI), Asian Development Bank (ADB), said on July 20, that it has not found any evidence of irregularities in the bidding process for access roads to the Melamchi project. “Based on the assessment of the documents in its possession, and the interviews carried out, OAGI has not found or received any evidence of collusion or other corrupt or fraudulent practice among those involved in the bidding process for the access road contract,” the report said. The ADB had fielded a mission to Nepal from May 29- June 2, 2005 to probe the charges of irregularities in Melamchi.
“This is the first time in the history of ADB that such a mission had come to investigate the charges of irregularities. Since the team of the donor could not find any irregularity, it is now absolutely clear that the RCCC is guided only by the vested political interest,” thundered elated Deuba on July 24 after a hearing on the issue.
Even as the fate of Melamchi appears extremely delicately poised, at stake is the huge problem of providing adequate drinking water to the population of Kathmandu . At present, the Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) is able to provide only 90 million liters a day (MLD) of water whereas the demand is soaring above 230 MLD. As such, the need for Melamchi project, which in its first phase will pump in extra 170 MLD, is undeniable. But the signs are ominous. As the tussle goes on, it could be the people of Kathmandu who will end up with empty buckets and thirsty stomach.
KATHFORD COLLEGE
Expanding Wings
As an indication of growing higher education sector, Kathford College – a newly established higher secondary school – has recently added new feathers in its cap.
The college has announced the addition of courses on Bachelor of Engineering (electronics and Communications) and Management.
Established in October 2003 with 30 students, the college now has 90 students. “We are encouraged by the support from students and parents. We are determined to run our programs successfully,” said Nitesh Man Shrestha, principal of the college.
Addressing the function organized to celebrate the granting of affiliations by the Tribhuwan University (TU) to teach the new programs, Dr. Parashar Koirala, dean of faculty of Management at TU, said that it is extremely important for the college to work closely with the business sector so that the students can get good job placements once they complete their studies.
Radha Krishna Mainali, Minister for Education and Sports, said that private sector involvement in higher education was resulting in the improvement of quality. “The government is working to introduce an umbrella act to manage all the universities,” he added.
Hemanta SJB Rana, the chairperson of the school board, said the success of the college depended on how the career of its students shape in future. He said the time has come to realize that students need to bear the responsibility of obtaining higher education themselves like in other countries. 
