DANG: The project to lift water from the Babai River and supply it to Tulsipur will take an additional six months to complete, according to officials.

Launched three years ago under a co-investment model by the Tulsipur Water Supply Users and Sanitation Committee, the project aims to ensure a reliable supply of clean drinking water to the city.

While most physical infrastructure is near completion, delays in electricity installation and household connections have extended the timeline.

Committee Chair Yam Kanta Bhandari said work was also slowed after the contractor stopped operations, citing rising construction material costs. He said efforts are underway to resume work and complete the remaining tasks within the revised schedule. The total project cost stands at Rs 568 million.

Several components, including pipeline laying, construction of more than a dozen water tanks, and maintenance of old pipelines, have already been completed. The main storage tank in Tulsipur is in its final stage.

Once operational, the system is expected to supply 100 liters of water per second, significantly easing shortages in areas such as New Bus Park, Ranijaruwa, and parts of Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City-6.

Vice-Chair Narayan Prasad Sharma said efforts are also ongoing to protect key water sources and prevent illegal excavation in areas including Mulkot, Ramri, Chisapani, Ghereni, Bakhre, Chharchhare, and Pahare. He added that sedimentation-based filtration at the Rakshachaur Treatment Plant has improved water quality, reducing issues during the rainy season.

The committee has also secured around 100 distribution chambers and introduced GIS mapping and a mobile app system to modernize services. Plans are underway to install smart meters for more transparent billing.

The project currently serves over 75,000 people through around 12,000 connections. With rising temperatures drying up local sources, the committee is supplying water through tankers in affected areas while residents await the completion of the Babai lift system.