Mahakali Irrigation Project in limbo over uncertain water supply

Mahendranagar: The third phase of the Mahakali Irrigation Project in Kanchanpur is progressing, but uncertainty over regular water supply continues to affect its effectiveness.

According to project Information Officer Yadav Baral, the main canal on the Nepali side has been completed, while construction of branch canals is ongoing. India has also built a section of the canal up to the border under the Mahakali Treaty.

However, water from the Mahakali River has only been released for testing and not on a regular basis, raising concerns over irrigation use.

Officials say that if a regular water supply is ensured through bilateral coordination, up to 5,000 hectares of land could benefit.

Despite repeated requests to initiate talks with India, the issue has yet to reach ministerial-level discussions.

The project, launched 18 years ago, aims to irrigate over 33,000 hectares of land, but lack of reliable water flow remains a major challenge despite around 60 percent physical progress.