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Photo: TRN Sikta Irrigation Project, a national pride project under construction in Banke.

The construction of the Sikta Irrigation Project, a national pride project under construction in Banke, has achieved irrigation coverage over 24,000 hectares of land despite taking nearly two decades and spending close to Rs. 24 billion.

According to the project director, Raju Acharya, the total expenditure since the project’s inception has reached Rs. 23.77 billion. With this investment, irrigation facilities from this project have been provided to 24,766 hectares of land in the district so far.

He said that the project, which was operated by constructing a dam on the Rapti River at Agaiya in Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality–2 of Banke, aims to provide irrigation to 42,766 hectares of land. As of the mid-April of the current fiscal year 2025/26, irrigation facilities have been directly provided only to 24,766 hectares of land.

According to the project’s Information Officer and Senior Divisional Engineer, Manoj Kumar Sah, construction is currently underway with a revised master plan estimating a total cost of Rs. 52.64 billion, with completion targeted for the fiscal year 2032/33. Although two decades have passed since the project began, only 46 per cent physical progress has been achieved so far.

He said that it has become easier for farmers to cultivate their crops with irrigation facilities reaching over 24,000 hectares, which are dependent only on rainwater. One of the reasons for the delay in the construction of the project is the failure to receive the sufficient budget, he said.

For the current fiscal year, a budget of Rs. 3.30 billion was proposed as per the approved master plan, but less than half - only Rs. 1.57 billion - was received, according to Acharya. He added that by mid-April, 2026 of current fiscal year, Rs. 857.79 million had been spent.

During the review period of the current fiscal year, the project has achieved 76.31 per cent physical progress and 54.48 per cent financial progress. Local farmers and civil society leaders have stressed the need for adequate and timely budget allocation, along with the removal of other obstacles, to accelerate construction.

Krishna Prasad Shrestha, coordinator of the Citizens Concern Forum Banke, emphasised that timely funding and support are essential for completing national projects like Sikta Irrigation on schedule.

According to the project, water distribution is managed through two main canals - western and eastern canals - with irrigation provided via branch canals.

By Siraj Khan