Mahakali Irrigation project sees only 22 per cent physical progress in 18 years

 Kanchanpur: Physical progress of the Mahakali Irrigation Project started 18 years ago is only 22 per cent.

Locals of the area are distressed as the construction of the national pride project has not completed even nearly after two decades. The construction of the project was started in 2063 BS and only 28 kilometers main canal has been completed so far.

The estimated cost of the project was Rs 35 billion while Rs 7.68 billion has been spent so far. Though the project is being constructed with an objective of providing irrigation facility at 33,520 hectares of land in Kanchanpur and Kailali districts, the construction activities are at a snail's pace due to various reasons including the budget constraint. Twenty-two sub-canals are under construction at the area where the main canal has been constructed.

Water is not yet released in the 28-kilometer canal. Senior Engineer of Mahakali Irrigation third phase project, Lekhnath Subedi, said water has not been released in the canal even after completion of the main canal due to the stance of Indian side of not providing water before formal inauguration.

He shared, "We have already informed our higher office about it." Divisional engineer Subedi shared that the Project has recorded 22 per cent of progress so far. As per the decision of February 11, 2021, canal stretching up to Malakheti of Kailali is to be built by fiscal year 2030/31.

Subedi said, "Only Rs 2 billion has been allocated for the Project in the current fiscal year which is very negligible. If adequate budget is allocated and disputes relating to distribution of compensation and usage of forest area are addressed, the Project would be completed within the stipulated deadline." Contract was awarded last fiscal year to build a canal from 28.8 kilometres to 48.3 kilometres of the Project in five packages.

Various reasons have impeded the Project such as lack of adequate budget and disputes relating to compensation distribution and usage of forest area among others. So far, 28.9 km of 151 km main canal has been constructed under this Project which was initiated in 2005/06.

There are 22 branch canals under construction in the areas surrounding the main canal. The branch canals are expected to provide irrigation facilities to 5,200 hectare land by coming fiscal year. The Project is estimated to irrigate altogether 33,520 hectare areas in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts.

In lack of irrigation facility, paddy was planted across only 43 per cent of the rice field in Kanchanpur district as of mid-July. Of the total 161,741 hectare arable land in Kanchanpur, only 59,602 hectares of land are used for farming.