Desperate farmers encroach on Gandak Canal

Birgunj (Parsa), Aug 10: Farmers of Rautahat are facing problems due to encroachment on the banks of Gandak Canal near Pheta Bazaar in Bara.

It may be noted that farmers of southern parts of Parsa, Bara and Rautahat are dependent on the Gandak Canal for irrigation.     

With the severe drought in Madhes Province, farmers in Bara deliberately demolished the banks of the canal and diverted water northwards, leading to the problem. In the last one and a half kilometers near Pheta Bazaar in Bara the Gandak Canal structure has been damaged four times in the last one month to divert water northwards, said Manoj Kumar Patel, head of the Narayani Irrigation Management Office.     

The breach in the canal has been obstructing the flow of water to Bankul in Rautahat. According to the office, water is distributed in Parsa district from Sunday to Tuesday, while water is being distributed to farmers in Bara and Rautahat from Wednesday to Saturday.     

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer (CDO) Basanta Adhikari shared that a search is underway to find those who damaged the banks of the Gandak Canal in Basantapur, Bara.     

700 cusecs of water in the Gandak Canal     

As India is not providing water to the Gandak Canal as per the agreement of the Gandak Irrigation and Hydropower Project, the farmers of Parsa-Bara and Rautahat are affected.     

Patel, the head of the Narayani Irrigation Management Office, shared that the Indian side has been providing 700 cusecs of water to the Gandak Canal for the past one week. A total of 850 cusecs of water should be available as per the agreement.     

The Gandak Irrigation and Hydropower Project Agreement was signed between Nepal and India on December 4, 1956.(RSS)