Australian expert team returns home after inspecting Sikta project

Published On: December 14, 2018 06:39 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

NEPALGUNJ, Dec 14: An Australia two-member team of experts has returned home after inspecting the western main cannel of under-construction Sikta Irrigation Project in Banke.

The team of experts conducted inspection in order to resolve the problem of dispersive soil in the western main canal on Tuesday.

“The two-member team of experts from Australia came on Tuesday and inspected various parts of western canal for three days,” said Krishna Nepal, director of the project, adding, “They have also collected sample of soil.” According to him, the experts will send us back us a report on the dispersive soil along with some suggestions.

Australians are well-known for their specialty in resolving such problems. Back in their country, dispersive soil causes lots of problems but they have able manpower and technical expertise to tackle the problem. Dispersive soil has posed a serious problem in the canal's under construction second section between 17.7 km and 35 km covered by 'ICB-2' contract.

According to the Sikta project office, dispersive soil has been used excessively in a five-kilometer section from Balapur to Jhijhari Khola of Dhakeri. Project director Krishna Nepal informed that the experts inspected the main canal in the western located in Agaiya, Balapur and Obhari village areas and are expected to offer their suggestions to tackle the problem.

It is said that the team had come to Nepal to inspect the Sikta project in coordination with an institute called Australia-Nepal Cooperation.

Of the total 45.250 kilometers, CTCI Kalika Construction Company had built 42 kilometers section of the irrigation project.

The canal had first broken down at Dhakeri near Jhijhari rivulet on June 28, 2016.

On July 23, 2018, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the Ministry of Irrigation had investigated the project after it broke down on July 23, 2018 again.

The government has already spent around Rs 14.7 billion in the project.

Started in 2062/63 BS, it is estimated that a total cost will cross 25 billion rupees when the project is complete.