Photo: Siraj Khan/TRN Workers concentrate on construction of the Dudhuwa Canal.

The long-delayed construction of the Dudhuwa Canal under the Sikta Irrigation Project has resumed and is now progressing at a rapid pace.

The project had previously invited bids in two packages to channel 18 cubic metres (18,000 litres per second) of water from the main canal into the 46-kilometre Dudhuwa branch canal.

Under the first package, necessary structures to divert water from the main canal to the Dudhuwa branch canal are being built, along with six kilometres of canal from Pripahawa Chowk in Janaki Rural Municipality to Ranjha Airport, 10 kilometres from Piprahwa Chowk to Khajura, and eight kilometres from Ranjha Airport to Manpur.

This package will provide irrigation to 7,271 hectares in Janaki and Khajura areas. The second package involves constructing an 18-kilometre canal from Ranjha Airport towards the southeast, reaching the Hirminiya area. Once completed, this will supply irrigation water to an additional 8,783 hectares.

Ramechhap Sherpa Construction Pvt. Ltd. is currently carrying out the works under the second package as part of a three-year plan at a cost of over Rs. 1.12 billion.

Engineer Nabin Paudel of the Sikta Irrigation Project Office said the plan includes repairing and reconstructing 18 kilometres of canal.

He added that the main structures, slopes, embankments and branch-sub-branch improvements will be completed on time, ensuring the smooth flow of water through the canal.

Once both packages are completed and the Dudhuwa Canal becomes operational, nearly 16,000 hectares of farmland will receive year-round irrigation.

Local farmers expect significant increases in paddy, wheat and maize production once the canal comes into operation.

Abdul Ghaffar Halwai, ward chair of Nepalgunj-22, said farmers in Dudhuwa, Khajura Nepalgunj and Janaki, who have long suffered from water shortages, are hopeful the project will finally resolve their problems.

He added that year-round irrigation would allow farmers to grow vegetables and diversify crops.

Halwai also urged the government to strictly monitor construction, citing repeated delays, stoppages and collapses in the past due to weak design.

The first contract agreement for the Dudhuwa Canal was signed on June 26, 2016 with a budget of Rs. 988.1 million and a completion deadline of Dec 19, 2018.

However, disputes between the contractor and the project office halted construction completely from April 11, 2018.

By Siraj Khan