Hetauda, January 2:

Winter crops standing on around 100 hectares in Padampokhari-9, Guraubirta, are about to dry up because of shortage of water in the canal for the last five months. Flood in the Rapti River had destroyed the canal in the rainy season.

Bhim Prasad Bastokoti, chairperson, Irrigation Project, said the river had deepened and the canal is now above the river’s water level.

The District Development Committee, Hetauda municipality and Hetauda Cement Factory were repeatedly urged to provide a bulldozer to repair the water source but to no avail, said Bastakoti.

The canal, constructed in 2056 BS with a government grant of Rs 130,000 and locals’ donation, irrigated 160 hectares of land.

He said that though they were collected Rs 55 per kattha to repair the canal, they were unable to bear the cost on time.

Despite all possible economic and humanitarian support by local farmers, the canal could not be repaired, said Kedar Nath Sapkota, treasurer of the project.

Farmers say the yield will go down this time as the fields are dry.

According to agriculture technicians, the winter crops need irrigation at least four times.