Minister directs stakeholders to address problems in Sunsari-Morang Irrigation Project

Kathmandu, September 22 — Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka has directed the bodies concerned to resolve the problems seen in the Sunsari-Morang Irrigation Project on time.

Inspecting the in-take structure of the Project situated at Baraha Kshetra municipality-1 in Sunsari today, he instructed the stakeholders to immediately address the problems seen in course of operating the project and to ensure irrigation facilities reach the farmers' fields.

"There should not be lack of irrigation in an agriculture-dominated country. Repair the non-functioning equipment at the earliest and extend irrigation facilities to the farmers' fields," the Minister said.

The Irrigation Minister also today inspected a special engineering method of supplying irrigation water from the Koshi river to Sunsari and Morang districts. The device employed for this method is 960 metres long, 80 metres wide and 10 metres deep.

This implement separates the sand and residues that have entered the main irrigation canal through the in-take, the Project Office said. Only one of the two such equipment installed in 2052 BS is working at present.

Minister Khadka directed the Office to promptly repair the damaged equipment. He also urged the Office to study about new alternative technology.

The Project is providing irrigation in 40 thousand hectares land in Sunsari and 28 thousand hectares land in Morang.

Secretary at the Ministry Sarita Dawadi, senior energy expert Prabal Adhikari and Deputy Director-General at the Department of Irrigation, Dinesh Bhatta, among the officials were present during the inspection.