Nepalgunj, June 28

Questions were raised about the quality of construction work in Sikta Irrigation Project, a national glory project, after the main canal of the project suffered major damage today, when the flow of water in the canal was tested.

Sources said part of the canal near Jhijhari Khola at Dhakeri, in Mahadevpuri-5, Banke, caved in when water was released to test the canal today.

Construction of the particular part of the project was completed by Kalika Construction Company about a year ago.

Locals, have raised questions about the quality of work, and demanded investigation.

“The canal burst has taken us by surprise as it was a newly-built structure,” said Shreedhar Upadhyaya, a local of Dhakeri, expressing apprehension this could have caused inundation if it had occurred somewhere near the village.

On his part, Kalika Construction Company Manager Yubaraj Chhetri conceded the canal was breached.