Siraha. Khutti Irrigation Canal at Lahan, which has been stalled for four years after the construction, is to be brought into operation. Although the headworks had been constructed at a cost of around Rs 90 million, the canal could not be operated due to lack of budget, lack of coordination with the local levels and disputes. However, according to the Water Resources and Irrigation Development Division Office, Siraha, rs 1.5 million allocated by the Madhes state government will clean and improve the canal.

Madhes State Assembly member Rajendra Prasad Chaudhary, District Coordination Committee President Dinesh Mahato, Chief District Officer Bishwa Prakash Aryal, Water Resources and Irrigation Development Division Office Chief Hasmat Ansari, Area Administration Office Lahan Chief Gokarna Raj Suyal and senior officials of police and Armed Police Force had reached the spot monitoring of khutti canal. The monitoring team informed that an agreement has been reached among all the stakeholders to bring the canal into operation soon.

According to Irrigation Development Division Chief Hasmat Ansari, the canal could not be operated as the budget was not received for the last three years. “We had come for on-site inspection today with the aim of identifying and resolving obstacles for the operation of the canal,” he said. Now it will be brought into operation by working on ‘fast track’. ’

The project aims to irrigate 935 bighas of land in four municipalities including Lahan, Sakhuwanankarkatti, Bhagwanpur and Laxmipur Patari. After the formation of ‘headworks’, the farmers were excited. However, the farmers formed a struggle committee as there was no urgency in the operation of the canal for a long time. The process of reopening has been initiated following pressure from farmers.