Sikta Irrigation Project Reports 92% Physical Progress in FY 2023/24

The Sikta Irrigation Project, a national pride initiative aimed at providing irrigation facilities to 42,766 hectares of land across six rural municipalities in Kohalpur municipality and Nepalgunj sub-metropolitan city in Banke district, has achieved 92% physical progress in the current fiscal year 2023/24.

According to Sandesh Poudel, Project Engineer, expenditures have reached over Rs 760 million out of the allocated capital expenditure of over Rs 830 million for the fiscal year, as of December 2023. Activities during this period included the contracting of remaining works for the eastern main canal and the Goha section of the canal. Land acquisition has also been completed for the construction of canals at Prasenipur, towards the western main canal, Guruwagaun section canal, and various other sections.

Looking ahead, the budget allocation for the Sikta Irrigation Project in the upcoming fiscal year 2024/25 has been increased to over Rs 1.6 billion, up from over Rs 1.3 billion in the current fiscal year. Currently, construction works are progressing on the Daduwa section canal.

Originally initiated in the fiscal year 2005/06, the project is slated for completion by fiscal year 2032/33, as per the revised master plan, with a total estimated cost exceeding Rs 52 billion. However, the project faces significant challenges such as inadequate budget allocations from the government and issues related to the distribution of compensation for land acquired for the project.