Tejan Khadka Morang, 7th August. Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Viraj Bhakta Shrestha has said that large irrigation projects can play an important role in reducing the problem of population migration by expanding agricultural production and employment opportunities. During the on-site study of Sunsari-Morang irrigation project and listening to the problems and complaints of local residents and water consumers affected by the project, Minister Shrestha said that irrigation should not be seen as a matter of canal construction only.
He opined that since the return of investment in irrigation is obtained through agricultural production, along with irrigation, agricultural production, productivity increase and farmers' programs should also be promoted in an integrated manner. "It is not enough to invest in irrigation, we must also create an environment that will increase production and income," he said.
According to Minister Shrestha, the Sunsari-Morang irrigation project alone has been contributing to agricultural production worth more than 14 billion rupees annually. He said that this will confirm the return of investment in irrigation infrastructure in the agricultural sector. He mentioned that effective operation of irrigation system will indirectly contribute to other economic activities including energy production.
He emphasized that the irrigation system should be made water user-friendly, sustainable and ensure the rights of local residents. He is of the opinion that nature-based solutions should also be prioritized while developing irrigation infrastructure. Minister Shrestha said that the problem of Gegran (sediment) seen in irrigation and energy projects is a long-term challenge. He said that the management of Gegran flowing into the river and the measures to minimize its impact on the project should be included in the design and operation of the project.
Sunsari-Morang irrigation system is one of the important and large irrigation systems of Nepal. A large population is directly connected to agriculture and irrigation through this system covering about 68,000 hectares of command area. This system was built between 1964 and 1975 with the help of the Government of India and has been serving for almost six decades.
But due to being in operation for a long time, the various structures of the system are becoming dilapidated. The change in the course of the Koshi river, the problem of Gegran accumulation and insufficient water in the intake have added challenges to the regular operation of the project. Especially in Chatra, water availability in the intake area of Sunsari-Morang irrigation system has been affected due to the large amount of Gegran carried by the Koshi river and the changes in the river bank.
According to the project officials, maintaining sufficient flow in the intake area on the left bank is more challenging due to the main flow of the river shifting to the right side after the construction of Chatra Bridge. During the dry season, the amount of water available in the intake is limited to about 10 to 15 cubic meters per second. In such a situation, even if the capacity of ponds and canals can be restored by dredging, it is a technical conclusion that this alone will not solve the long-term problems of the project. As the design flow of the project is around 60 cubic meters per second, it seems that it will be difficult to flow water at that capacity without ensuring a permanent diversion structure and necessary head.
In this context, Minister Shrestha said that immediate and long-term solutions should be combined into one plan and moved forward. He said that the Water Resources and Irrigation Department should prepare and approve an integrated action plan that includes short-term, medium-term and long-term measures. He said that the responsible body, cost, budget source, implementation deadline and measurable achievement of each work should be clearly defined in the action plan. He also emphasized that the work should be carried out by coordinating the resources including the regular budget and the Sunsari-Morang irrigation restoration and improvement program.
Minister Shrestha made it clear that short-term measures should not be taken as a substitute for long-term structures. He said that even if dredging, spur construction or other management works are necessary for the time being, they should complement the long-term design and permanent structure. "The message that the problem has been solved after purchasing a dredger should not go out," he said.
Due to the fact that the Koshi River carries a large quantity of Gegran every year and the river keeps changing its course, there is a continuous problem in the large irrigation systems including Sunsari-Morang. Therefore, Minister Shrestha said that a clear priority should be determined on whether to give priority to the construction of new projects or to invest in the rehabilitation and upgrading of existing large irrigation systems.
He opined that preservation, rehabilitation and modernization of the old irrigation system should be prioritized and the needs and feasibility of new projects should be evaluated objectively. He said that if irrigation can be promoted by linking it with agricultural production, employment and local economy, it will directly contribute to reducing population migration from rural areas.
