Uncertainty Looms Over Water Supply for Mahakali Irrigation Project

Mahendranagar. While construction of the main canal under the third phase of the Mahakali Irrigation Project, a national pride project in Kanchanpur, is progressing rapidly, the regular flow of water remains uncertain.

According to Information Officer Engineer Yadav Baral of the Mahakali Irrigation Project Third Phase, the Indian side has completed the 1,200-meter main canal from Tanakpur to the Nepal-India border as per the Mahakali Treaty, while Nepal has completed 28 kilometers of the main canal from Brahmadev to Toti Phuleli in Shuklaphanta.

“With 28 kilometers of the main canal built, branch canals are also under construction,” he said. “Although India released water into the main canal from the Mahakali River for testing, it has not been released regularly.” He noted that if an agreement is reached with the Indian side to ensure regular water flow, irrigation facilities could reach 5,000 hectares of land.

Information Officer Baral stated that the irrigation project has written to the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation three times to coordinate with India regarding water supply. “We have been urging higher authorities to take positive initiatives to bring water from the Mahakali River into the main canal,” Baral said. “However, this issue has not yet reached the ministerial level between Nepal and India.”

Baral mentioned that former Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Kulman Ghising had held informal discussions with the Indian side on the matter. “This issue should have been taken to the irrigation ministerial level in India to ensure regular water flow in the canal,” he said. “Due to the lack of concrete initiatives, the main canal, built with billions in investment, is being filled with wood, grass, and forest debris.”

He stated that although progress is being made on the Mahakali Irrigation Project, which began 18 years ago with the goal of irrigating 33,520 hectares of land up to Malakheti in Kailali, effective initiatives to bring water have been lacking. “Currently, construction is underway in four phases from 28 to 48 kilometers of the main canal,” he said. “About 60 percent of the physical progress has been achieved across the four phases so far.”

Baral noted that challenges in main canal construction include land acquisition, disputes over public and squatter land, and tree felling in some areas. “The project budget for this year, including compensation, is Rs 2 billion,” he said. “As compensation cannot be distributed, some funds remain unspent, and work is being affected.”

The government aims to complete the canal construction up to Malakheti in Kailali by 2087 BS. Additionally, Rs 9 billion has already been invested in the project. After the head regulator in Tanakpur and the 1,200-meter main canal on the Indian side were completed with some delay, water was released for testing and on Asar 15 for Paddy Day.

Dinesh Malla, President of the Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that government mechanisms must take positive initiatives to bring water into the main canal under the third phase of the irrigation project to provide facilities to farmers. “We should not delay diplomatic initiatives with the neighboring country to bring water from the Mahakali after spending billions to dig the canal,” he said. “We are optimistic that the newly formed government will resolve this issue.”

President Malla expressed confidence that once the canal is completed, the irrigation problem, particularly north of the highway in Kanchanpur, will be solved. “If irrigation facilities lead to increased production, it will also strengthen the economy,” he said. “A smooth and effective environment must be created to provide irrigation facilities to farmers through the Mahakali Irrigation Project.”