Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) is a public company registered under the Nepal Government’s Company Act 2063 and operates under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) modality. According to KUKL’s Articles of Association, the company has the objective to undertake and manage the water supply and sanitation system of the Kathmandu Valley previously operated by Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) and to provide a quantitative, qualitative and reliable service to its customers at an affordable price.

KUKL is responsible for the operation and management of water and wastewater services in the Valley. It operates the water supply and wastewater services under a License and Lease Agreement with the Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board (KVWSMB) for 30 years. KUKL is responsible for the maintenance of all assets received on lease from KVWSMB. The company is also taking over the responsibility for infrastructure built by the Melamchi Water Supply Project.

The shareholders of the company, with relative initial shareholdings, are: the Government of Nepal (24%), Municipalities in the Valley (40%), Private Sector Organizations (12%) [ Nepal Chamber of Commerce- 7.2%, Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce & Industry-2.4%, Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce – 1.2%,  Bhaktapur Chamber of Commerce -1.2%], and an employee trust  paid by the government (5%).

The KUKL is governed by a Board of Directors with nine members. Six directors are nominated by shareholders (Two  from GoN, two  from Kathmandu Metropolitan, one from Lalitpur Metropolitan, one from remaining municipalities of Kathmandu valley and one from private sector organisations) and two are appointed  independently . The chairman is selected from among the Board of Directors.