Janakpurdham: The Bagmati irrigation project in Karmeya, Sarlahi, has suffered significant damage estimated at Rs 100.4 million due to severe floods that struck on September 27 and 28.
The flooding, which affected the Lalavkaiya, Lakhandehi, Bagmati, Chandi, and Jhanj rivers, has devastated the vital infrastructure that provided irrigation facilities to approximately 46,000 hectares of agricultural land in Sarlahi and Rautahat districts.
Anubhav Chaudhary, Division Head of the project, reported that the floods have caused extensive destruction to several key components of the irrigation system.
Damaged infrastructure includes the Bagmati barrage, its gate, the paved surface below, and the embankments, as well as the western main canal leading towards Rautahat and the eastern main canal heading towards Sarlahi.
Additionally, branch and sub-branch canals, headworks, and the main and subsidiary roads connecting the dam and canal have also been affected.
Specific damages have been reported in various branches of the canal system, including the Chandi Saifan of the western main canal, Hazria branch under the Manpur branch, Prempur branch, Mahmodpur branch, Laukaha branch under the Bholhia branch, and the canal and dam of the Jigangria branch.
Chief Chaudhary noted that the Lakshmipur branch of the Eastern Main Canal, the R4 section of the Gadaiya branch of the Eastern Main Canal, and the connecting roads were also impacted by the flooding.
The Bagmati irrigation project, which commenced construction in 1978, was officially operational by 1993, serving as a crucial resource for local agriculture. Authorities are assessing the full extent of the damage and will initiate recovery efforts to restore the vital irrigation infrastructure as soon as possible.
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