How long for a water project to be completed?

The Mahakali Irrigation Project, which started in Kanchanpur almost a decade and a half ago, has spent billions of rupees for the construction of the third phase of the main canal but the water has not flowed yet. No The project has cost Rs 4.92 billion since its inception, said Shambhu Pandit, senior divisional engineer of the project.

So far, the project has completed construction of 13 km main canal and is constructing additional 15 km main canal at a cost of Rs. 2.32 billion. The project has stated that the 220-meter main canal left over from the Nepal-India border (Bhimdatta Municipality-9) is also under construction.

The project has been facing financial constraints due to delays in the distribution of compensation, deforestation and other problems. "By mid-July, 25 kilometers of main canal can be constructed." Engineer Pandit told RSS, "We are working to build a branch canal within the next year to irrigate the area around the main canal."

According to the locals of Bhimdatta Municipality-8, Tilachaur, the canal was constructed due to the delay in the survey of the land to be compensated for the construction of the branch canal.

Under the project, which aims to irrigate 35,000 hectares of land in Kanchanpur and Kailali, India was to build a 1,200-meter long main canal from the Mahakali River. The main canal is being constructed up to Phuleli village of Shuklaphanta under the project.

At the same time, even though India has built the canal work including head regulator on the Mahakali River, it seems necessary to pay attention to its usefulness when releasing water towards Nepal. "Homework is being done for the construction of 22 branch canals in Kanchanpur." Engineer Pandit said, "Irrigation will start after the construction of about 50 km branch canal."

India had also been reluctant for two decades to build a 1,200-meter main canal up to the Nepali border as per the Mahakali Treaty. The Indian side, which started the work last year, has now completed the work. Although the estimated cost of construction of 151 km canal up to Malakheti of Kailali is estimated at Rs.27 Aarba. 

Dhwaj Bahadur Bista, Ward Chairman of Bhimdatta Municipality-8, complained that he has not been able to get irrigation facility even after the construction of the canal. "If the water flowed in the canal, it was hoped that many farmers would be able to earn a living from fish farming." He said, "We have made arrangements of boring connection and underground irrigation from the ward and state government for the irrigation of the farmers."