Kathmandu, July 29: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, has stressed on developing irrigation projects convenient to the farmers.
In a discussion with the delegation
from the Mechanized Irrigation Innovation Project at the Ministry today,
Minister Khadka urged the bodies concerned to think about how any new
irrigation project is going to be useful and convenient to farmers, while
constructing new projects.
"How the neighbouring
countries have provided subsidies to the farmers in irrigation, this has to be
studied and new projects taken ahead," he suggested.
Minister Khadka also on the
occasion expressed commitment to discuss with the Ministry of Finance regarding
the cost required while moving ahead the projects.
Project Chief Ajaya Raj Adhikari
said that the Project has been pursued initially with the objective of making
irrigation facility available to 22,400 hectares area at 16 local units in
Sarlahi and Rautahat districts.
Stating that the Project has been
moved ahead supplying irrigation water in the farmers' fields through deep tube
well and prepaid card, he said the Project would be completed within four
years.
It is said the farmers will be able
to use 1,000 litres water for irrigation purpose at three rupees after the
completion of the project.
The Asian Development Bank has 78
per cent and the government 22 per cent investment in this Project. (RSS)