The physical progress of the Mahakali Irrigation Project, a project of national pride, has reached only 27 percent so far.

Nine billion rupees have been already invested in the project.

Estimated to cost Rs 35 billion, the project was initiated in 2006 and is aimed at providing irrigation facilities to 33,520 hectares of land in Kanchanpur and Kailali districts. It is said the project has been delayed due to various reasons, including budget constraints.

The progress of the project has been slow due to budget constraints, and issues related to land compensation distribution, and forest area management.

“The project’s slow progress is due to local dissatisfaction with compensation, land issues, and the lack of timely management of forest areas,” said the project’s Senior Division Engineer Rajesh Bhakta Pokharel.

Engineer Pokharel said that a contract of 1.97 billion rupees has been signed with the construction company and the19-kilometre-long main canal of the project is being constructed in four phases up to Malakheti in Kailali.

So far, 28.8 kilometres have been constructed under the main canal from Brahmadev to Phuleli in Shuklaphanta Municipality.

As per the Mahakali Treaty, the Indian side has constructed 1,200 metres of the main canal from Tanakpur to the Nepal–India border.

The government’s goal is to complete the canal construction up to Malakheti in Kailali by 2087 BS or within the coming five years.

Locals are distressed as the construction of this national pride project remains incomplete nearly two decades later.