Irrigation canal provides multiple benefits to locals

By Our Correspondent ,Dadeldhura, July 24: Concrete irrigation canal in the Chure region built from the Rangun River — which flows from Alital in the Chure region through the Parsuram Municipality and joins the Mahakali River — has facilitated the locals not only to irrigate farmland but also to provide water for livestock and cleaning purposes.

Following the construction of the facility, over 40 households in Bhawar village in Alital Rural Municipality-5, now have access to irrigation for hundreds of ropanis of land. Local resident Gagan Rawat said that it has also made water more accessible for other domestic uses.

The Sundar Nagar Lower Bhawar Irrigation Project was constructed last fiscal year 2024/25 by the Water Resources and Irrigation Development Division Office, Dadeldhura, at a cost of Rs. 2 million. 

According to Rawat, who is also the chairperson of the project’s users' committee, around 320 metres of canal was built from the Rangun River. "The new concrete canal has eliminated the frequent water flow disruptions caused by breakage in the old earthen canal," he said. 

Previously, the area relied on an unpaved canal which often broke in multiple places, especially during the paddy plantation season. A full day's labour would sometimes be required just to bring water. 

Rawat said this issue has now been resolved, allowing for regular water flow that facilitates livestock care, bathing, laundry, and other domestic needs. This year’s rice planting was also completed earlier. However, he mentioned that although the canal has reached the village, additional budget is required to extend it to the fields.

Engineer Amar Bahadur Pal, head of the Division Office, said that there were 206 projects, including irrigation and embankments, with a total budget of Rs. 250 million in the last fiscal year. Of these, 140 were irrigation projects. 

While all projects were initiated through formal agreements, five to six projects remained incomplete by the end of the fiscal year, resulting in approximately Rs. 20 million in unused funds.