Narayani Irrigation Office Intensifies Gandak Canal Cleanup Amid Encroachment Challenges

Parsa. The Narayani Irrigation Management Office has accelerated its cleanup campaign to remove accumulated sand, soil, and debris from the Gandak Canal. In the current fiscal year, the office has initiated cleaning and maintenance work on six kilometers of the main canal in Parsa and five kilometers in Bara.

According to Office Chief Manoj Prasad Patel, the accumulation of silt and debris had caused the canal's capacity to shrink. "We have utilized our own equipment and personnel to clean the main canal," he stated, adding, "Encroachment by locals around the canal has made the management of removed waste a significant challenge."

The encroachment of land surrounding the canal has made it difficult to dispose of the extracted soil, sand, and weeds. "Because locals have built huts and fish ponds along the canal banks, managing the waste generated after cleaning has become problematic," he explained.

He noted that encroachment issues have been identified in approximately 25 to 30 locations along the canal, and coordination with the local administration is underway to resolve them.

For the branch canals, the work has been divided into five sections covering 75 kilometers, with the tender process already underway. Contracts worth approximately 4.5 million rupees have been approved, with each section covering 15 kilometers. He emphasized that since the Gandak Canal structure is 50 years old, regular maintenance is essential.

The agreement regarding the Gandak Irrigation and Hydroelectric Project was signed between Nepal and India on December 4, 1956. Under this agreement, the Government of India constructed a 'barrage' on the Narayani River. This project currently provides irrigation facilities to 28,000 hectares of land in the country.