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Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said that the Chandra Canal in Fattepur, Saptari, should be preserved and promoted not only as irrigation infrastructure to increase agricultural production but also as an important heritage site in the history of irrigation in Nepal.

Minister Shrestha, who reached Fattepur during an inspection of energy and irrigation systems in Madhesh Province, said during discussions with local representatives, irrigation users and other stakeholders that the Chandra Canal could be developed as a historic example of a modern irrigation system and linked with agricultural production, heritage conservation and tourism.

He said the ministry was ready to formulate necessary plans in coordination and cooperation with local governments for the canal’s protection, maintenance and rehabilitation. He emphasized that the long-term preservation of the canal is not solely the responsibility of the government but a shared responsibility of local governments, users and the wider community.

“Irrigation infrastructure does more than deliver water to farmland; it can make multidimensional contributions to agricultural production, the local economy, employment and tourism,” Minister Shrestha said.

Construction of the Chandra Canal began during the reign of Chandra Shumsher, and it is recognized as Nepal’s first modern state-built irrigation system. Drawing water from the Triyuga River, the system provides irrigation to approximately 10,500 hectares of agricultural land in Saptari. The infrastructure was constructed about a century ago.

Minister Shrestha noted that the fact that a structure built nearly a century ago continues to deliver water to farmers’ fields is no ordinary achievement. He said its historical and technical significance should be passed on to the younger generation.

According to him, the ministry is seriously working on recommending the Chandra Canal for inclusion in the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID)’s World Heritage Irrigation Structures list.

“Nepal’s irrigation history is very old and glorious. It is the responsibility of our generation to preserve that history, make its importance known to the world and modernize it as necessary,” he said.

A rehabilitation project for the Eastern Terai Irrigation System was implemented with grant assistance from the Government of Japan to improve the deteriorating structures of the Chandra Canal. Under the project, completed with a grant of approximately 2.256 billion Japanese yen, 32 structures within the canal system were repaired and reconstructed.

The project involved the construction and improvement of eight canal underpasses, nine cross-drainage structures and 15 canal-crossing bridges. Rehabilitation became necessary as deteriorating structures had reduced the canal’s water flow to around 80 percent of its design capacity, increased leakage and created a risk of structural failure.

Following rehabilitation, the project set a target of increasing the actual irrigated area from approximately 5,500 hectares to 10,500 hectares and raising the productivity of monsoon paddy from 3.65 tonnes per hectare to 4.38 tonnes per hectare.

The Chandra Canal is also important to Saptari from the perspective of agricultural production and food security. As a major irrigation system based on the Triyuga River, one of the district’s principal indigenous water resources, its sustainability is directly linked to the agricultural production of thousands of farmers.

Minister Shrestha said regular maintenance is necessary from the canal’s main structure to its branch and distributary networks, and urged water users’ organizations and local governments to take an active role in its preservation.

The ministry believes that cooperation among the government, local governments and water users can make the Chandra Canal more effective as a modern irrigation system while preserving its historic identity. At the same time, it said there is potential to develop the canal area as a destination combining agriculture, history and tourism.

Minister Shrestha also conducted an on-site inspection of the embankment area along the Sunsari Khola in Ward No. 4 of Bhokraha Narsingh Rural Municipality, Sunsari, and said flood control, river management and irrigation development should be pursued in an integrated manner.

Following the inspection, during discussions with local residents and representatives, Minister Shrestha directed officials to identify and implement immediate measures to reduce the flood risk posed by the Sunsari Khola while expanding irrigation facilities. He also noted that the strategically important Bhokraha Substation is at risk and instructed the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation to immediately begin preparations to identify measures to minimize potential damage using available resources and equipment.

The discussions also emphasized moving forward with plans based on the previous study of the Sunsari River Irrigation Project, while adapting them to the current circumstances. A study conducted with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from 2003 to 2005 had proposed various options for irrigation development and flood control in Sunsari district.

According to the study, the Sunsari River Irrigation Project could be implemented as a short- to medium-term initiative with a planning horizon of approximately 25 to 30 years. The project is expected to help expand irrigation facilities while also improving river management and reducing flood risks.