Response from Asian Development Bank ( ADB) and concern persons of HWSP

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Melamchi Water Supply Project : What Do you think about this project???

Currently, Melamchi water project is a major problem to Hyolmo Indigeneous People. This project could displace Hyolmo people from their native land and might also have many environmental demirits. The so-called 'Hyolmo Water Project' must be critically re-evaluated with the clear understanding of all its consequences. In a statement by the Asian Development Bank, it mentions that this project will introduce institutional reforms with a view to ensuring sustainability of various services.
Nevertheless, their promises and assurances have not come to fruition. The reality of the matter does not equate to the reality of the present conditions. I personally believe that all aspects of cultural practices spring from having a secure land; without it, one would not only lose the mode of expression through wearing a regional dress but would also lose the very cultural identity of which are are proud of. Below you will find the statements provided by the ADB and I humbly request all the readers to go through it and place their honest comments.
THUK-JAY CHE....
Kunsang Chyaba (Hyolmo)

Nepal: Melamchi Water Supply Project : Nepal
Datum: 19.09.2008

Uitleg fases
Fase:
Board

Processing Stage:
Project Loan

Abstract:
The Project will improve the health and well-being of the people in Kathmandu Valley by alleviating the critical water stress in the region, where 1 million urban dwellers receive piped water for only two hours every two days.
This will be accomplished by tapping additional water resources from the Melamchi River, increasing the water treatment capacity, enhancing access to water, and optimizing the use of existing water resources.
The Project will also improve the living conditions of the people in the Project area by mitigating direct and indirect project impacts and channeling benefits to the beneficiaries on a long-term basis, with particular emphasis on social and environmental aspects.
The Project will introduce institutional reforms with a view to ensuring sustainability of services.

Strategic Development Objectives
Primary
Human Development Secondary
Sound Management of Environment

Rationale
Kathmandu Valley is the country's single largest urban economy and is critical to Nepal's economic growth.
Water is central to the well-being of the population and the key to its productive capacities.
However, current water services are grossly inadequate and unreliable many people must resort to tankered supplies, bottled water, and both deep and shallow wells.
The trend has led to serious environmental concerns as shallow wells are becoming increasingly polluted and deep aquifers are being mined to secure additional water.
Poor water quality impacts sharply on public health.
In terms of access to water
(in the dry season) and quality of water, almost all the population suffer, but the effects are greatest on the health of the poor.
The Project provides the required opportunity to address both the acute socioeconomic distress caused by the lack of adequate safe water to Kathmandu Valley residents, and the institutional challenges to provide water and wastewater management services on a sustainable basis.

Objectives and Scope
The main objectives of the Project are to alleviate the chronic water shortage in Kathmandu Valley on a sustainable, long-term basis, and to improve the health and well-being of its inhabitants.
The Project also seeks to develop a comprehensive institutional framework for water resource management within the valley.
It involves the transfer of water from the Melamchi Valley into Kathmandu Valley through a diversion scheme with a 26 kilometer tunnel.
The Project comprises
(i) infrastructure development;
(ii) social and environmental support;
(iii) institutional reforms; and
(iv) project implementation support.

Policy Dialogue
Good governance, private sector participation, cost recovery, and conservation of natural resources.

Environment Category: A
Environment Impact and Mitigation
A summary environmental impact assessment was circulated to the Board on 23 August 2000.
Measures to mitigate adverse environmental impacts have been incorporated in the project design.
The most critical environmental issue for the people of Melamchi Valley is the amount of water to be taken from the Melamchi River and whether it will affect current irrigation use.
A guarantee will be provided that in the dry season a minimum of 30 percent of natural flow will be left in the river.
All of the water abstracted will be used after treatment purposes and will not be used for flushing the Bagmati River except in connection with the periodic cleaning of the tunnel.
An approved environmental management plan will mitigate against construction impacts through appropriate clauses in the construction contracts.
Construction supervision consultants will be responsible for ensuring that contractors follow contract specifications.
A final check on compliance with sound environmental practices will be made through an independent assessment by a social and environmental monitoring domestic NGO and the results of the assessment reported to ADB.

Social Aspects and Remedies
The location and design of infrastructure has been carefully considered to minimize, if not avoid, land acquisition and resettlement.
Permanent land acquisition is expected for the Melamchi Diversion Scheme (main access road and access roads to adits), water treatment plant, and bulk distribution system (reservoirs and pipeline route), the distribution network (pipeline route), and the sewerage system improvements amounting to about 131 ha, mostly agricultural land.
Temporary land acquisition of 101 ha is also expected for construction camps, borrow pits, and other construction-related activities.
Approximately 98 structures of 91 households will be affected either partially or wholly, and about 25 households will be displaced.
To ensure smooth operation, the Government has agreed that no civil works contracts will be awarded until all land acquisition is complete.
Some community facilities and common property resources will also be affected.
Loss of income directly due to the Project will be compensated, and rehabilitation assistance will be provided for severely affected persons.
The Resettlement Action Plan developed for the Project and its policy framework were agreed to by MWSDB and ADB.
Hygiene education and promotion program will be one of the most important social measures to be taken by the Project for people living in Kathmandu Valley.
Special measures are being taken to ensure that the introduction of the private operation of the water supplies will especially benefit the poor.
These include access to good quality bottled water, assured connections to piped water, targeted hygiene education and promotion programs, and an affordable tariff based on basic needs consumption and targeted environmental sanitation improvements.

Benefits and Beneficiaries
The Project's primary target population is the 1.5 million people (180,000 households) living in the Kathmandu Valley.
The urban inhabitants will benefit from improved water supply services with better water quality, increased quantity, improved supply, extended service areas, more equitable water distribution, and better customer services.
These benefits will go hand in hand with raised public health, hygiene, and environmental awareness, and improved sanitation facilities and maintenance.
The Project will also accrue positive socioeconomic and poverty reduction benefits to the Melamchi Valley population (40,000).
These will include increased incomes from the expanded market and upgraded skills, reduced workload for women, better education for children, and reduced incidence of trafficking of girls.

Public Consultation
Arranged by Borrower, Bank and TA Consultants
Date for Consultation : During PPTA implementation, and processing of the Project.
Groups Consulted : All stakeholders concerned, including beneficiaries, adversely affected people, village development committees and ward representatives, district development committees and municipal officials and representatives, ministries concerned and MWSDB, the private sector, external funding agencies, NGOs, and consultants.

Beneficiary Participation in Formulation
The Project has been prepared with extensive participation of stakeholders, including beneficiaries, adversely affected people, village development committees and ward representatives, district development committees and municipal officials and representatives, ministries concerned and MWSDB, the private sector, external funding agencies, NGOs, and consultants.

Beneficiary Participation in Implementation
The Project will address the direct participation of beneficiaries through social uplift program implementation, representation of adversely affected people in the compensation determination committee, and representation of Kathmandu Valley beneficiaries in a water users association.
The Project will also undertake consensus building at all levels on issues such as water services, environmental and social mitigation and compensation, and employment.
To ensure that women's participation and gender concerns are fully addressed, a gender strategy will be developed and implemented.
Apart from this, it has been agreed that at least one of the members of the regulatory body will be female.

Procurement
Procurement of goods and services financed by ADB will be done in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on Procurement.
Contracts for civil works estimated to cost more than $1.0 million equivalent will be carried out using international competitive bidding procedures, while those contracts estimated to cost $1.0 million equivalent or less will be under local competitive bidding procedures.
Miscellaneous minor goods that cannot be grouped into a larger contract and cost less than $500,000 per contract will be procured through international shopping procedures.
Procurement for contracts financed by other development agencies will follow their respective guidelines

Financing Institution:
Asian Development Bank

Total Project Cost
USD 120 million

Program:
Loan-1820 NEP

Contact:
Mr. Leonardus Boenawan Sondjaja (lsondjaja@adb.org)

Agency:
Melamchi Water Supply Development Board Hari Ram Koirala Executive Director Ministry of Physical Planning and Works Ministry of Physical Planning CPMO@DWSS.MOS.COM.NP
Source from ADB Statement

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FESTIVAL IN HYOLMO (YOLMO) HELAMBU

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Tsezhu in Hyolmo (Festival in Hyolmo)

Videos of Tsezhu or festival in Hyolmo
1.Losar:Right now Video is not available for losar

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4.Sher tsezhus :Part 1 and for more video please visit www.youtube.com/kunsang



5.Nara Drungru :



Inside Hyolmo monastry:

Hyolmo Dress ???

The Hyolmo Dress: Preserving the Cultural Identity of the Hyolmo People

In recent times, there has been a growing debate and confusion surrounding the traditional dress of the Hyolmo people, also known as the Helambu community, in Nepal. The Hyolmo dress, known as Daura Suruwal or Laptar Fungsho, holds immense significance in their cultural heritage. It is important to address the misunderstandings and shed light on the uniqueness and historical context of the Hyolmo dress.

    Hyolmo kids before 1970 in  Hyolmo .

The Hyolmo dress, referred to as Laptar Fungsho in the Hyolmo language, consists of a Daura (a closed-neck, double-breasted shirt) and Suruwal (loose-fitting trousers). The Fungsho is a white or black woolen jacket made from sheep wool, crafted by the skilled artisans of the Hyolmo community. The dress also includes the Nyolkuti Gapti, a special knife traditionally carried by men. It has been an integral part of the Hyolmo people's attire for generations.

To better understand the significance of the Hyolmo dress, it is essential to delve into the history and origins of the community. The Hyolmo people trace their roots back to Tibet, Mongolia, China, Bhutan, and other regions. However, when we refer to the Hyolmo community, we specifically address the people residing in Hyolmo, also known as Helambu, in Nepal. Their unique culture, traditions, and dress have developed and evolved in this particular region over time.

It is worth noting that within the Hyolmo community, there are individuals with diverse ancestral backgrounds. For example, families like the Gale, Sherpa, Tamang, and Magar migrated to Hyolmo and adopted the local culture while preserving their own distinct traditions. The Lhoba family came from China to Tibet and eventually settled in Hyolmo. Similarly, individuals from China and Mongolia have also become part of the Hyolmo community. The cultural fabric of the Hyolmo people is a rich tapestry woven from various influences.

While some individuals have advocated for adopting the Chhuba, a traditional Tibetan dress, as the Hyolmo dress, it is important to recognize the uniqueness and individuality of the Hyolmo culture. The Hyolmo people are not Tibetans, and their language, Hyolmo, is distinct from Tibetan. Though there may be linguistic and cultural similarities, it does not equate to being the same culture. Comparatively, Hindi and Nepali share some similarities in spoken and written words, but it does not make Indians and Nepalis the same.

Moreover, the practice of Buddhism among the Hyolmo people should not necessarily dictate the choice of their traditional dress. Buddhism is a religion that transcends cultural boundaries, and it is not explicitly tied to wearing the Chhuba. The founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha, was born in Nepal and had no direct connection with Tibet. The introduction of Buddhism to Tibet came through Guru Rinpoche, who was born in present-day Pakistan and later went to India. The spread of Buddhism in Tibet and its subsequent cultural practices were intertwined with a unique history and context.

The notion that the Daura Suruwal is the national dress of indigenous people like the Tamang, Newar, and Thakali, raises the question of why it should not be considered the cultural dress of the Hyolmo people. The Hyolmo dress carries its own distinct characteristics, such as the Fungsho, Nambu Kara (scarf), and Nyolkuti Gapti, which are made within the Hyolmo community. These garments and accessories reflect the heritage and craftsmanship of the Hyolmo people, who have been engaged in yak and sheep herding for generations.

It is also crucial to address historical claims that the Rana regime forced the Hyolmo people to wear Daura Suruwal. If this were the case, why was this imposition specific to the Hyolmo community? It is unlikely that a dress imposed by the Rana regime would only be applicable to the Hyolmo people. The introduction of Daura Suruwal as a national dress occurred during the reign of King Prithivi Narayan Shah, who unified Nepal. However, the history and cultural heritage of the Hyolmo people predate this period by several centuries.

 In the present day, it is not uncommon for individuals to find other cultural dresses and languages fascinating, leading them to hesitate to wear their own traditional dress. However, it is important to recognize that preserving cultural identity extends beyond choosing attire. There are numerous aspects of Hyolmo's culture that require attention and nurturing. The future of the Hyolmo community lies in the hands of its people, who must strive to preserve their cultural heritage through mutual understanding and collective efforts.

In conclusion, the Hyolmo dress, consisting of the Daura Suruwal and Laptar Fungsho, holds immense cultural significance for the Hyolmo people. The dress is deeply rooted in their historical context, originating in Hyolmo, Nepal. While acknowledging the diverse ancestral backgrounds within the community, it is essential to respect and preserve the unique culture and traditions of the Hyolmo people. By embracing their distinct identity and heritage, the Hyolmo community can continue to flourish and contribute to the rich cultural tapestry of Nepal.

Hyolmo song..... Hyolmo jhorang jhosye, Yabu jhorang jhosey , Jhojey namyang mindu sampa tsera tsera namyang mindu sempa tsera tsera. Horang thuindang thuinjey, yabu bhetie thuinjey, thuinjey nayang mindu sempa tsera tsera , Namyang mindu semapa tsera tsera...... Ohhhhhhhhh lhaso

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