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The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has set a target of completing all national pride irrigation projects within five years by reviewing their timelines and accelerating implementation.

At a high-level discussion with project chiefs held at the ministry on Tuesday on the status and future plans of national pride irrigation projects, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha directed officials to revise project timelines and prepare clear action plans for timely completion.

Minister Shrestha stressed the need for results-oriented monitoring, stronger inter-agency coordination and clear assignment of responsibilities.

He urged officials to complete the Bheri-Babai Diversion Multipurpose, Babai and Sikta irrigation projects within next three dry seasons.

He directed officials to use modern technologies such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) for the equitable distribution of available water during the dry season, prepare a special irrigation action plan for winter crops, and link irrigation projects with agriculture and industry to maximise their overall economic returns.

“It is time to ensure that the returns on the state’s long-standing investment reach farmers’ fields,” Minister Shrestha said.

Projects to come under direct monitoring

The ministry is also set to establish an Irrigation Implementation and Monitoring Unit to improve the implementation of national pride irrigation projects.

The unit will serve as a bridge between project sites and the ministry and regularly monitor project progress, problems and solutions.

According to the ministry, CCTV cameras will be installed at major construction sites to enable direct monitoring of project activities. Physical and financial progress, contract packages, land acquisition, forest clearance and payments will be integrated into a single dashboard.

An early warning system will also be developed to trigger immediate reviews if progress falls below predetermined levels, said the ministry.

Project chiefs will now be required to submit commitments specifying delays in terms of the number of months rather than percentages, the remaining work in kilometres, structures and hectares, and a single fixed date for project completion.

Similarly, Secretary at the Ministry Sarita Dawadi said the ministry would provide the necessary coordination to ensure that the projects are completed within the stipulated timeframe and urged officials to expedite the work.

Construction pace picks up

According to Mohan Kumar Shakya, head of the Planning Division and joint secretary at the ministry, an action plan has been prepared to complete most of the six national pride irrigation and water resources projects within the next five years.

According to Shakya, the estimated cost of the Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Project is Rs. 61.65 billion, of which around Rs. 17 billion has been spent so far.

Its financial progress stands at 37 per cent and physical progress at 34 per cent.

A contract worth around Rs. 24 billion has recently been re-tendered. The project aims to provide irrigation facilities to around 122,000 hectares of command area.

Similarly, the Bheri-Babai Multipurpose Project has an estimated cost of around Rs. 33.20 billion.

Of this, Rs. 19.30 billion has been spent so far. Financial progress has reached 58.6 per cent and physical progress 66.4 per cent, said Shakya.

The project is targeted for completion within two years by accelerating construction.

The Sikta Irrigation Project aims to provide irrigation to 42,700 hectares, while facilities have so far been extended to around 25,000 hectares.

The project has an estimated cost of around Rs. 53 billion, with financial progress at 44 per cent and physical progress at 51 per cent.

The target is to complete the project within five years after resolving the technical problems caused by dispersive soil.

Likewise, the Rani Jamara-Kulariya Irrigation Project aims to provide irrigation to 38,300 hectares.

Irrigation facilities have so far reached 13,200 hectares, while the project is also generating 4.7 MW of electricity.

The project, with an estimated cost of around Rs. 30 billion, has achieved 73 per cent financial progress and 75 per cent physical progress.

Land acquisition, compensation and availability of construction materials remain major challenges, Shakya said.

Additionally, with the support of the World Bank, work is under way to expand the canal worth an additional USD 137 million and develop 18,000 hectares of irrigated land within the next five years.

The Babai Irrigation Project aims to provide irrigation to 36,000 hectares, of which 28,800 hectares currently have access to irrigation.

Of the project's estimated cost of Rs. 26.69 billion, Rs. 18.21 billion has been spent.

Financial progress has reached 68.23 per cent and physical progress 81.97 per cent. The project is targeted for completion by fiscal year 2028/29.

The Mahakali Irrigation Project aims to provide irrigation to 33,500 hectares, but facilities have so far reached only around 5,155 hectares.

Of the estimated cost of around Rs. 37 billion, Rs. 10.74 billion has been spent so far. Financial progress stands at 30.68 per cent and physical progress at around 31 per cent.

Land acquisition and uncertainty over the water to be received from India under the Mahakali Treaty are major challenges. The project is targeted for completion by fiscal year 2034/35.

According to the ministry, project timelines in the past were affected by delays by contractors as well as the expansion of project scopes.

Author: Laxman Kafle