Government Expands Irrigation Facilities Across Nepal

Kathmandu. Due to the effective management of the government, the area suitable for irrigation within the country is gradually expanding.

According to the ministry-wise progress report of the current fiscal year published by the Ministry of Finance, the irrigation facility has reached 1,590,388 hectares from the projects operated at the federal level by the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.

Out of the irrigable land, irrigation facility has been available throughout the year in 532,655 hectares. The government has undertaken some large and important projects to provide irrigation facilities throughout the year.

According to the ministry, 546,448 hectares of irrigated area has been expanded through underground irrigation projects.

Lift and reservoir irrigation programs have expanded irrigated area by 6,088 hectares. A total of 13,891 hectares of land has been reclaimed through the construction of 1,518 km of embankments in large and medium rivers and embankment construction.

1,037,848 hectares of irrigated area has been expanded through underground irrigation projects. In the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, 192 water measurement centers and 355 weather measurement centers have been established and operated.

For the management of risks of river erosion, inundation, and landslides, Rs 5.59 billion has been allocated in the current fiscal year for river control programs in major rivers like Mahakali, Karnali, Narayani, Koshi.

Out of this, 1,494.71 kilometers of embankment has been constructed in rivers such as Mahakali-Dadeldhura, Karnali, Narayani, Babai Bhada Aurahi, Khando, Triyuga, Koshi Bakrahawa.

The ministry has stated that the work of protecting and saving 15 high-risk markets is ongoing until the end of Falgun in the current fiscal year. By identifying and studying high-risk landslides, landslide management work is ongoing in 53 different locations. Similarly, 3,164 lift irrigation has been expanded by preparing 12 basin master plans.

Maintenance of 2,557 hectares of surface irrigation has been done, while 174 hectares of new surface irrigation system has been expanded.