Four canals of Sikta complete

By Our Correspondent,Nepalgunj, Dec. 28: Construction of four secondary canals of the eastward canal of the Sikta Irrigation Project has been completed. In the project’s eastern side, it was planned to construct a total of six secondary canals. Among them, two have been identified as Phattepur and Rajkulo, and the other four have been named from S1 to S4.

“We have completed the construction of the secondary canals including Phattepur, Rajkulo, S2 and S4. Construction of S1 and S3 is underway,” said Bishal Yadav, senior divisional engineer of Sikta Irrigation Project.

The eastward canal was planned to be 53-kilometre long with its main dam at Agaiya. “Water has already been allowed to flow in the 24-km section. A contract has been awarded to construct 37-km of the total 53-km canal,” said Er. Yadav.

According to officials, progress of the 37-km section has reached 90 per cent. The deadline to complete the section is February 12, 2023.  The contract for the 37-km section of the eastward canal was awarded to Kalika-Kumar JV on August 25, 2017 at Rs. 3,302,139,519. 

“By allowing water to flow in the secondary canals, we have been able to provide irrigation facility to around 2,500 hectares of land in Phattepur,” said Er. Yadav. Similarly, utilising the Rajkulo, around 1,000 hectares of agricultural land could be irrigated. 

The project also informed that a process to study the expansion of the eastward canal to the Narainapur area has started after it was halted for three years. The survey was stopped after the locals had shown reservations regarding the land required to construct the canal. 

“Now, local representatives have solved the land problem. We have resumed the survey,” said Er. Yadav. Officials of the project and local representatives of Narainapur had inspected the canal construction site on Monday.

Meanwhile, the project informed that the westward canal will supply water to around 16,000 hectares of land. However, the canal has suffered damages at different sections because of its poor construction.