Sikta Irrigation Project begins registering farmer water users

The Sikta Irrigation Project, a national pride project under construction in Banke, has begun managing water based on a registration drive of farmers who receive irrigation facilities.

According to project director Raju Acharya, the collection of details on farmers currently drawing water and those who will do so in future from the branches, sub-branches and tertiary canals of the eastern and western main canals has reached its final stage.

Director Acharya said water-user membership is mandatory to receive irrigation service, and operating committees for the main canal, branches and sub-branches will be chosen based on that membership. He said irrigation expansion and construction of necessary infrastructure will be carried out based on the collected data.

The registration was carried out after discussions with farmers and local elected representatives in the western canal's Pedari, Akalgharuwa and Parsenipur areas, and the eastern canal's Rajkulo and Fattepur branches.

The project's physical progress has reached about 51 percent. According to the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation, the project had extended surface irrigation to about 100 additional hectares of land by the end of Bhadra.

The project aims to extend irrigation to about 300 hectares by the end of Poush and to call 17 tenders worth about Rs 2.483 billion.