CHITWAN, July 13: Local farmers in Chitwan are facing a significant setback as they were unable to transplant paddy on time due to an extended period of drought this year. The situation worsened when the Narayani Irrigation Project failed to release water on time for paddy plantation, leaving farmers disappointed.
The project authorities have announced that water release for irrigation purposes will be further delayed. The reason behind the delay is the ongoing installation of a new motor in the lift, as the previous one malfunctioned. Project engineer Kul Raj Chalise explained that the installation process involves the installation of four motors, which will require additional time to complete. Chalise added, "We anticipate that the installation will be finished by mid-July. Once the motor installation is complete, we plan to release water immediately."
Delayed monsoon makes farmers unable to transplant paddy
The installation of the motors is being carried out by an Indian company at a contractual cost of Rs 260 million. The project authorities are working diligently to expedite the process and ensure that water is made available to farmers by the third week of July.
Upon the re-operation of the Narayani Lift Project, farmers from various areas including Narayanpur, Kailashnagar, Paras Nagar, Fulbari, Shivanagar, Geetanagar, and Parbatipur will benefit from improved irrigation facilities. The project, which has been operational since 2040 BS, currently provides irrigation services to 4,700 hectares of land, benefiting approximately 25,000 households annually. However, this year, farmers have faced significant hardships due to the delay in receiving water from the project for irrigation purposes.
(RSS)
