KATHMANDU, Aug 12: The Department of Water Resources and Irrigation (DoWRI) has introduced a special monitoring mechanism to track the physical and financial progress of national pride projects and other initiatives under its jurisdiction.
The department argued that the mechanism was necessary as several national pride projects have long exceeded deadlines, failed to meet targets, and faced unresolved construction challenges.
Under the new system, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and the DoWRI will jointly monitor on-site progress, financial status, construction schedules, and major obstacles, while coordinating measures taken to resolve them. The mechanism will also identify problems, assign responsibility to relevant agencies, set deadlines for resolution, and ensure follow-up.
Expedite national pride projects
Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has called a meeting with all project chiefs next week to review the progress of national pride projects and prepare future action plans.
In the initial phase, monitoring will focus on six major projects, namely the Mahakali (Third) Irrigation Project, Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project, Babai Irrigation Project, Bheri-Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project, Sikta Irrigation Project, and the Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project.
DoWRI officials said the mechanism will not merely collect progress details but function as a result-oriented system to identify problems, enforce immediate actions, assign responsibilities, and track outcomes. The department expects this approach to strengthen accountability and ensure completion of long-delayed projects within stipulated time, cost, and quality standards.
Preparations are also underway to integrate site-level data directly into the monitoring system, enabling regular reviews of construction progress and financial updates from project offices.
