Works on Sikta irrigation project delayed

Siraj Khan Nepalgunj, June 28: Construction of the Sikta Irrigation Project, one of the national pride projects expected to revolutionise agricultural production in Banke district, has been delayed.  Even 18 years after construction works commenced, only 70 per cent works on the project have been completed. 

Works on the pride project had begun in the fiscal year 2003-04, and initially the project was expected to be completed in 10 years. But it was delayed because of various obstacles.

According to the Sikta Irrigation Project, 70 per cent of the construction work has been finished in 18 years. Dr. Santosh Kaini, director of the project, said that 30 per cent of the work on the project is still pending.

"The construction work has been delayed because of recurrent problems in land acquisition and the distribution of compensation," said Dr. Kaini. It is said that the delay was also caused by some contractors who left the work in the middle and by the locals who made unnecessary demands.

Due to an obstruction created in the construction of the eastern canal in the Narainapur area over the compensation dispute, coordination work is underway with the rural municipality to remove the obstacles. 

The rural municipality has also expressed its commitment to help, said Dr. Kaini, adding that that the issue was discussed with the re-elected chairman of Narainapur Rural Municipality, Ishtiaq Ahmed Shah, and ward chairpersons only a few days ago.

According to the project, the problems have arisen from the locals in the 44 to 53 km section of the eastern main canal to Narainapur.

The western canal of the project aims to irrigate 33,766 hectares of land in the western part of the Rapti River in Banke district while the eastern main canal will supply water enough to irrigate about 9,000 hectares of land in the eastern part of the Rapti River up to Narainapur.

A budget of Rs. 1.37 billion was allocated for this project in the current fiscal year 2021-22. Project director Dr. Kaini said that Rs. 762.08 million has been spent so far. He said that around Rs. 200 million will be spent in the remaining period of the current fiscal year. 

The government has allocated Rs 1.88 billion for the project for the coming fiscal year.

 “In the coming fiscal year, the problems arisen in the 44 to 53 km section of the eastern main canal up to Narainapur will be solved, construction of Guruwa village branch canal will begin and construction and repair of the western and eastern main canals and protection of irrigated areas will be given priority,” Dr. Kaini said.