TRISHULI: The Spokesperson of Nepali Congress, Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, has said irrigation was imperative for local development. Even the small infrastructures pave way for development in rural area, he added.

Spokesperson Mahat said it while inaugurating an irrigation canal at Shivapuri Rural Municipality-8 of Nuwakot district on Monday. “I’m here to hear the farmers’ problems relating to agriculture and infrastructures,” he said, adding that utmost efforts would be made to address their concern gradually. He vowed that Nuwakot, where he was born, is the priority for his political works.

Mahat further said the development models should be reached to every village.

On the occasion, Chief of Hydro Resource and Irrigation Development Division in the district, Hari Prasad Guragain, said the irrigation project was completed by checking the nonstandard works of contractors. The contractor which did wrong in course of canal construction was punished.

The 3-km long canal was constructed at the cost of Rs 17.3 million. Embankment was created along Thulo Chhahare and Sano Chhahare streams for the canal.

Some 100 farmers have been benefitted with irrigation canal.

Guragain said the availability of water throughout the year would help farmers adopt new crops as well. Even the fishery and micro hydropower are being studied, he added.