Energy Minister Basnet inaugurates Irrigation and River Control Management Project Office

Kathmandu: Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet has said the government is determined to provide irrigation facilities to one million hectares of land lacking irrigation.

Inaugurating the office of the Irrigation and River Control Management Project in Jajarkot today, he said works are underway on the construction of irrigation infrastructures for 1.5 million hectares of land out of the 2.5 million hectares.

Energy Minister Basnet added that survey works are ongoing to reach irrigation facilities on one million hectares of land now. He said problems are encountered in providing irrigation facilities to 500 thousand hectares of land which is an upland area beside the big and small rivers and streams.

According to the Minister, the Ministry is determined to resolve this problem. Former Minister Satya Pahadi said the Project office has been set up in Jajarkot as there was no office carrying out irrigation-related works in Karnali province itself.

According to her, this project will implement the budget provided by the federal government under the irrigation heading to the 10 districts of the Karnali province. She said a budget of more than Rs 3 billion was allocated to Jajarkot for electrification and works have also been started to that end through contract.

Karnali provincial government Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Bedraj Singh, National Assembly member Maina Karki, and Bheri Municipality Mayor, Chandra Prakash Gharti the establishment of the project has added a brick to the development of Karnali province.