About 76.5 per cent of the work on the Babai Irrigation Project, which was started with the aim of irrigating 36,000 hectares of land in Bardiya district, has been completed so far.

The master plan was implemented with the goal of completing the construction work by the fiscal year 2025/26.

However, around 13.5 per cent work is still to be completed while the deadline of the project expires in a year.

The master plan of about Rs. 18.96 billion was approved in 2021. Due to the lack of sufficient budget allocation as per the master plan, the work of the Babai Irrigation Project is being delayed and the cost is also overrunning.

Although the budget allocation for the Babai Irrigation Project, which was listed as a national pride project in fiscal year 2011/12, has increased, there has been a budget shortfall as per the master plan.

The Babai Irrigation Project has made 76.5 per cent physical progress so far and 77.5 per cent financial progress.

The project aims to complete 78 per cent of the work by the end of this fiscal year, said Babai Irrigation Project Director Sushil Chandra Devkota.

The project plans to construct 91 kilometers of main canal and 313 kilometers of branch and sub-branch canals. Of which, 34 kilometers of the main canal on the east side has been constructed, while the branch and sub-branch canals are being constructed.

Similarly, 28 kilometers of the main canal on the west side have been constructed, while construction work is underway in other areas.

A total of Rs. 14.7 billion has been spent on the project so far. Preparations are being made to extend the deadline as the work could not be completed according to the master plan.

Devkota said that the cost is estimated to increase from Rs. 18.96 billion to Rs. 22 billion if the master plan is revised and the deadline is extended.

He said that the project could not be completed as per the target due to insufficient budget allocation in previous years, work being stopped for some time due to COVID-19 pandemic and the construction company not working on time.

He said, “We could not call new tender for about two years due to budget shortage.”

He said that construction works of some contracts awarded in 2017 have also been stalled due to non-performance by the construction company.

He informed that some of these contracts have been terminated after completing the process and new contracts have been awarded, and work is progressing, while some are in the process of being terminated.

The project is now providing irrigation facilities to about 26,000 hectares while carrying out the construction work.

The construction work is being carried out by closing the canal from January to May. Apart from that, water is distributed to farmers.

By Yagya Prasad Sapkota