As per the agreement between the governments of Nepal and India, India was supposed to release water to the canal about a month ago. But India is yet to release water even as the paddy season is just around the corner. [break]
“Water should have been released to the canal by the first week of May. But the canal is still dry,” said Suresh Prasad Gupta, engineer at Narayani Irrigation Management Division, Birgunj. “We hope water will be released in the canal by July 15,” added Gupta.
Last year, release of water to the canal had been delayed by two months last year. Farmers in the region depend on the canal to irrigate 37,400 hectares of land in Bara, Parsa and Rautahat districts.
Last year, the Indian side had cited the delay to maintenance of the canal, informed Gupta. “Because of the delay, wheat plantation had largely been affected in these three districts,” said Gupta.
According to locals, they have been facing the same problem every year as India delays release of water to the canal.
“By this time we should have sowed seeds but we have not been able to do this due to lack of water. Rainfall over the last few weeks was a great relief but this will not solve our problems fully,” said Dhurendra Singh, a local farmer.
“Actually we have been depending on monsoon rains all these years for plantation,” added Singh.
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