Wheat farming affected as Indian side not releasing irrigation water

Birgunj, Dec 10, 2019 : Wheat crop in Parsa, Bara and Rautahat districts is going to be adversely affected this year with the Indian side not releasing irrigation water in the Gandak irrigation canal.

The Narayani Irrigation Management Division Office Birgunj stated that the Indian side will not be releasing water in the canal for wheat farming this year as it was carrying out repair works on the local drain siphon at 106.45 RD in West Champaran, India.  Usually, the Indian side releases water in the Gandak canal for irrigating wheat cultivation by the third week of December.

The Don Section at Ramnagar, West Champaran India has sent a letter to the Nepali side informing about the repair and maintenance of the drain siphon 106.45 RD.

Narayani Irrigation Management Division Office Birgunj’s information officer Suresh Prasad Saha said that farmers will have to manage the irrigation from local streams, ponds, lakes, and traditional irrigation system as Indian side would not be releasing water in the Gandak canal this time for the wheat crop.

” The farmers in Parsa, Bara and Rautahat districts, considered the granary of the central Tarai,  have not been able to carry out wheat farming to the full extent this time as water has not been released in the Gandak irrigation canal so far,” said Seshman Pandit, a local farmer.

It is said wheat crop in 76,500 hectares in the three districts would be delayed or affected this year due to the unavailability of irrigation water in the Gandak canal.

The Indian side releases water in the 81 kilometres long Gandak canal towards Nepal side two times in a year.

The Gandak canal has a four decades long history.  As per the Gandak Agreement signed between Nepal and India, the Government of India should release 850 Cusecs water in the Gandak cabal towards Nepal side.

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