KATHMANDU, Oct 3: The government is preparing to expand the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MoID) by bringing irrigation under its jurisdiction, according to government sources.
The proposal involves separating irrigation from the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI) and bringing it under the Infrastructure Development Ministry led by Sunil Lamsal.
If approved, the Department of Irrigation would also come under the MoID, which already oversees major agencies including the departments of roads, buildings, water supply and sewerage, transport management and local infrastructure.
Damage to irrigation amounts to Rs 2.42 billion
The ministry was formed by merging the former ministries of water supply, urban development, and physical infrastructure and transport. It has been allocated around Rs 300 billion for the current fiscal year 2026/27. With irrigation added, its budget would exceed Rs 350 billion.
Chief Secretary Govinda Bahadur Karki confirmed that the proposal has been discussed but said no decision has been made yet.
“Discussions have taken place about merging irrigation with the Infrastructure Development Ministry, but no decision has been made,” Karki said.
Sources said Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah has pushed for the merger and raised the issue at a Cabinet meeting. However, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha opposed the proposal, arguing that irrigation has a different nature from other infrastructure sectors.
Infrastructure Development Minister Lamsal, meanwhile, is said to be supportive of the merger, with the view that major infrastructure projects should be handled by a single ministry.
A joint secretary at the MoEWRI, however, warned that separating irrigation from the ministry could undermine the sector. He argued that the minister and secretary could focus primarily on roads and buildings, leaving irrigation projects with less attention and funding.
The Department of Irrigation currently oversees six national pride projects, including the Babai and Sikta irrigation projects. Work on the Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project has also faced difficulties.
Sources said the proposed merger is aimed at bringing road and irrigation works under a single ministry to improve coordination and speed up implementation of national pride projects.
