Babu Ram Lamichhane

Nuwakot, February 8

Estimation and designing of Battar-Pipaltar Irrigation Project in Nuwakot district, to facilitate irrigational facilities in 17,000 ropanis of land, has been completed.

The project manager of the Hariyali Environment Management Company (HEMC) has informed that since the designing and estimation have been completed, construction of the physical infrastructure could start within the coming three months.

It has been learnt that the company took responsibility for the work after the government published the new irrigation policy. According to the company, the project would be the biggest and costliest ever run in the hilly regions of the country.

The company further informed that the total cost of the project would amount to Rs 130 million and added that the main canal would be constructed from Phalankhu river situated in the middle of Gerkhu-8 of Nuwakot and Jipjipe-3 of Rasuwa district. The project targets to irrigate 17,000 ropanis of land in Bidur municipality VDCs 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and Simbutar, Bidur, Battar, Inarpatti, Majhitar and Pipaltar of VDC 7.

Shova Ram Thapa, director of the company, said that 26.5 per cent of the total budget, i.e., Rs 34.45 million would be taken in as VAT, overhead cost and administrative cost while Rs 95.55 million would be used for infrastructure development. He also informed that one million rupees has already been spent on project survey, estimate, designing and other miscellaneous costs.

The project was first started as Lift Irrigation Project by the government with a budget of Rs 100 million, but was deemed unsuccessful. The HEMC started the re-estimation and survey of the project last year for a probable solution to the stranded project.

Late King Birendra had ordered for a construction of irrigation canals in Battar and Pipaltar areas, being dogged by droughts during his visit to the area on BS 2031-32. The first lift irrigation project in the area was started with water brought from Trishuli river via a water pump. Around Rs 101.95 million was spent over 15 years but the project closed down just after finishing two-third of the work. Locals wondered about their future with the project being stranded midway.

Director Thapa said, "Now, we would make their dreams come true." He said that he became

interested to join the project after he came to know about the arable lands in the area that had remained unfertile due to lack of proper irrigational facilities. Adding he said, "Water would be available in plenty here within two years."

The company would finish the project with loan from Agriculture Development Bank and sale of shares. The ADB has been requested to grant 60 per cent or Rs 57.33 million of the construction cost. The process for granting the loan is underway, Thapa said.

The bank has also confirmed this. Representatives of the bank have returned to the capital after doing feasibility study on the irrigation land, consumer necessities, water source and technical aspects of the project. An engineer of the study group told The Himalayan Times, "We have become very influenced by all the components of the project." He even hinted that the bank is eager to invest on the project soon.

HEMC has informed that it would collect its investment, bank loans and interest through irrigation tax. "We have to pay the bank within seven years and until then we would collect Rs 800 per ropani annually from consumers. After paying the bank, we would reduce the tax and collect our investment in 40 years and hand the project over to government," director Thapa said. He said, "The minimum age of the project is 60 years."

The length of the canal to be constructed from water source to Gangate of Bidur municipality-4 would be 22.806 km with one metre depth. The average width of the canal would be 1.5 metres, from where sub-canals would be constructed to distribute water, technicians of the company said.

Local farmers have been waiting for the project since it could give them a new lease of life. They would be able to cultivate their lands all year round. An elderly farmer in Inarpatti said, "We had hoped for better results from the previous project, but nothing came out of it. Now, our hopes have again been stirred."

Agriculture experts have stressed that a better irrigational facility would transform the area into a pocket area for vegetable farming.