Water has been released to test the main canal of the Mahakali Irrigation Project’s Third Phase.
The water was released from the Tanakpur barrage from Brahmadev in Bhimdutta Municipality to Phuleli Gharkatuwa River in Shuklaphanta Municipality for the testing, said Rana Bahadur Bam, project chief.
The testing would be conducted for a week, said Bam, urging one and all not to leave children and cattle near the canal during the period. The main canal from Brahmadev to Phuleli Gharkatuwa River measures 28 kilometers in length.
The Mahakali Irrigation Project is a national pride project and the canal from Brahmadev to Bagun River measuring 19 kilometers was tested last year.
According to the Mahakali Treaty signed between Nepal and India, the Indian side ought to build a canal from the Tanakpur barrage to Nepal’s border land.
A 1,200 meters long canal has been built accordingly, informed Bam, adding that of the 22 branch canals, the construction of two has been completed while the remaining are under-construction.
Similarly, over Rs 1.17 billion has been allocated for the Project for the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24 while Rs 1.23 billion was allocated for the current fiscal year, said Bam.
Around 33,520 hectares of land is expected to be irrigated by this Project.
