Banke. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said all sides should work together to complete the national pride project, Sikta, within the stipulated timeframe.

He expressed the belief that the successful implementation of the project would bring long-term positive change in agricultural production, food security and rural economy of Banke district.

After the onsite inspection of the project, Minister Shrestha said that the government was committed to ensure necessary budget for the project.

He pledged to take the necessary initiative to resolve the complexities surfaced in the Acts and laws and administrative process required for the timely completion of the national pride project. The multi-year contract and agreement process would be made more simple and effective, he said.

Expressing concern over the shrinking of irrigated area due to encroachment of canal area, pollution and uncontrolled urbanization, Minister Shrestha stressed the need of prioritizing conservation of canals. He also pledged to make necessary coordination and facilitation in not only supplying water to farmers’ fields along with the construction of irrigation infrastructures but also in marketing of agro products, easy availability of quality seeds and fertilizers and development of value chain of agricultural products.

Stating that the Sikta Irrigation Project would not only be limited to infrastructure development but would also serve as a long-term basis for modernizing agriculture, increasing production, strengthening food security and increasing farmers’ income, he said during the meeting, he interacted directly with the local farmers and took stock of the situation of paddy plantation and listened to their problems and suggestions.

The Sikta Irrigation Project was started in the fiscal year 2061/62 BS by constructing a 317-metre-long barrage over the Rapti River at Agaiya of Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality in Banke district. The project aims to provide reliable irrigation facility to 42,766 hectares of arable land in Rapti Sonari, Janaki, Baijanath, Duduwa, Narainapur, Khajura rural municipality, Kohalpur municipality and Nepalgunj sub-metropolis. Irrigation facility will be provided to 33,766 hectares land through the western main canal and around 9,000 hectares of land through the eastern main canal.

The project was listed as a national pride project in the fiscal year 2068/69 BS with a total estimated cost of around Rs 52.89 billion as per the approved master plan. The second phase of the project is currently underway to complete the project in three phases. The target is to complete the project by fiscal year 2089/90.

The project has achieved 50.50 per cent physical and 45.53 per cent financial progress so far. According to the project, Rs 24.08 billion has been spent so far and irrigation facility has been extended to 25,000 hectares of land.

Under the project, construction of a 317-meter long barrage, desalination basin and flushing channel has been completed.

The construction of 45.25 km main canal in the west and 53.5 km of the 14.5 cumecs capacity towards the east has been completed. Likewise, out of the total 233 kilometres, around 77.59 kilometres have been constructed through the construction of branch and sub-branch canals, around 30 kilometres embankment, 187 hectares land acquired for the construction of canals and structures, modernisation of the irrigation system managed by farmers, construction of reservoirs and lift irrigation system in around 150 hectares of land have been expanded.