DODHARA CHANDANI, July 28: The Mahakali Irrigation Project, which started 18 years ago, has achieved only 22 percent physical progress. Locals are distressed as the construction of this national pride project remains incomplete nearly two decades later. Initiated in the year 2006, only 28 kilometers of the main canal has been completed so far.

The project, estimated to cost Rs 35 billion, has spent Rs 7.68 billion till date. Aimed at providing irrigation facilities to 33,520 hectares of land in Kanchanpur and Kailali districts, the project has been delayed due to various reasons, including budget constraints.

Twenty-two sub-canals are under construction in the area where the main canal has been built, but water has not yet been released into the 28-kilometer canal. Senior Engineer of the Mahakali Irrigation third phase project, Lekhnath Subedi, stated that water has not been released due to the Indian side's stance of not providing water before the formal inauguration.

"We have already informed our higher office about it," said Subedi.

Divisional Engineer Subedi reported that the project has recorded 22 percent progress so far. According to the decision made on February 11, 2021, the canal stretching up to Malakheti of Kailali is to be completed by FY 2030/31.

"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 compensation distribution and the use of forest areas are addressed, the project would be completed within the stipulated deadline," Subedi added.

Various issues, such as lack of adequate budget, disputes over compensation distribution, and usage of forest areas, have impeded the project's progress.

So far, 28.9 km of the 151 km main canal has been constructed under this project, which was initiated in FY 2005/06. There are 22 branch canals under construction in the areas surrounding the main canal. These branch canals are expected to provide irrigation facilities to 5,200 hectares of land by the coming fiscal year.

The project is estimated to irrigate a total of 33,520 hectares of land in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts. Due to the lack of irrigation facilities, paddy was planted on only 43 percent of the fields in Kanchanpur district as of mid-July. Of the total 161,741 hectares of arable land in Kanchanpur, only 59,602 hectares are used for farming. -- RSS