Nawalparasi. Minister for Energy Deepak Khadka has inaugurated the settling basin of Nepal Gandak Western Canal Irrigation Project.
Energy Minister Khadka and lawmaker Binod Chaudhary jointly inaugurated the setting basin amidst a programme at Semri in Nawalparasi today. Now this canal has come into operation at full capacity.
Although the canal was constructed in 2039 BS with an irrigation capacity of 8,700 hectares, only 20 per cent capacity was irrigated due to the problem of sand accumulation in the source.
Chaudhary had been taking initiatives to operate the canal at full capacity after he was elected member of the House of Representatives in 2079 BS. This canal falls in the constituency of MP Chaudhary. Chaudhary, who was elected from West Nawalparasi-1, said that farmers would be benefited as irrigation facility would be provided to five times more land from the canal than before.
“It gives me immense satisfaction to see the happiness on the faces of the farmers of Nawalparasi after making arrangements for the full operation of the Nepali canal,” he said.
That’s not enough. We have a lot more to do. Chaudhary said that he has always been sensitive to the problems of the farmers and nawalparasi will get effective projects for the farmers in the future. Lawmaker Chaudhary drew the attention of the Energy Minister to find a long-term solution to the problem of inundation and erosion that occurs every year during the rainy season.
He pointed out the need for serious dialogue with the Indian side regarding the Gandak project, which was signed between Nepal and India 65 years ago. “As soon as the rains start, the people of this area have to live in fear. The problem of inundation and erosion is being faced every year.
We need to have a serious dialogue with the Indian side to find a solution to this, for which I draw the attention of the Minister,” he said. The government will not delay the long-term solution by allocating the necessary budget for the problem of submergence in this sector. The settling basin of The Nepal Gandak Western Canal, inaugurated today, has been completed in two-and-a-half years at a cost of Rs 350 million.
After the construction of the settling basin, sand will now stop flowing into the canal. Minister Khadka said he was committed to resolving the problems of inundation and irrigation faced by the people of West Nawalparasi. “Hon’ble Binodji has already told me before coming to this program that the six rivers here should be embankments. There is a need for adequate budget for that.
Similarly, it would have been easier to work if the officers working here were also of a higher level. We are committed that the suffering with which we have spent 65 years should not let this time go long. The government is serious about this. Stating that he had come to West Nawalparasi for the second time and was aware of the problems here, Minister Khadka said it was a matter of pride that the region has got a national and internationally established person like Lawmaker Chaudhary.
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