KATHMANDU: The government has formed a high-level investigation committee to probe the alleged ‘foul play’ in Sikta Irrigation Project, a national pride project.

The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has formed an investigation committee and directed it to find the facts behind the cheating said to have taken place in the project, and to recommend action against the guilty and give suggestions for reconstruction.

Joint Secretary at the Ministry Sushil Chandra Tiwari is the coordinator of the six-member committee which comprises two senior technical employees of the ministry and two from the Department of Irrigation as members. An independent expert will also be in the committee. The committee has been given 15 days to carry out its work and submit a report. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun said the committee has been formed to address the problem seen in the national pride project.

The irrigational canal of the project had broken during a trial-run conducted on July 23. The edge of a section of the canal had broken when water was released in the canal during the test-run of the completed section of the canal. A section of the canal had also broken two years ago before this.

Minister Pun said the committee has been formed to resolve the problems that have been occurring time and again.