15 billion spent on construction of Ranijamara Irrigation Project, 50 percent progress

Birendra Bhatt, Dhangadhi: Rs. 15 billion has been spent in the 13 years of construction of Ranijamara Kulariya Irrigation Project of National Pride. As per the master plan of the first phase, Rs. 27.75 billion has been estimated to complete the construction of the project and Rs. 15 billion has already been spent.

Project Chief Kedar Shrestha said that even though the target was set to complete the construction work of the project within the fiscal year 2081/82 BS, the physical and financial progress reached only 50 percent by 2078 BS. "It seems that it will take more time to expand the irrigation facilities within the 6,000-hectare area near Lamki, even though it seems to be completed within the stipulated time to provide irrigation facilities to the 14,300-hectare area," said project chief Shrestha.

According to him, the contract process for the construction of the sub-branch canal at Lamki has not been completed as the environmental impact assessment and compensation work is still pending. A budget of Rs. 2.34 billion has been allocated for the construction of the project for the current Fiscal Year.

However, the progress for the first seven months of the current fiscal year has been only Rs. 680 million. The project office aims to drain water from the main canal this year. The office also said that work is underway to generate electricity. The project has been started to provide irrigation facilities to a total area of ​​20,300 hectares. According to local Bishnu Dutta Rawal, the project will take another 14-15 years if the physical progress is not even 50 percent in the first 13 years of construction.

"This is the condition of a project of national pride," he said. The project office has been claiming that construction work is underway to expand irrigation facilities in an area of ​​14,300 hectares towards Kulariya, but no environmental impact assessment and compensation has been done for the construction of the sub-branch canal for expansion of irrigation facilities in 6,000 hectares towards Lamki.

Although the irrigation facility can be extended to 14,300 hectares in time, it is necessary to extend the time for expansion of irrigation in the remaining 6,000 hectares, according to the project office. The project is being constructed with the grant of the World Bank, investment of the Government of Nepal, and human labor.