PARSA: Farmers in Rautahat district are facing irrigation problems due to repeated breaches on the banks of the Gandak Canal near Pheta Bazaar in Bara district.
The canal is a critical water source for farmers in the southern regions of Parsa, Bara, and Rautahat, especially amid the current severe drought in Madhes Province.
According to Manoj Kumar Patel, head of the Narayani Irrigation Management Office, farmers in Bara have deliberately damaged the canal’s structure multiple times over the past month in an attempt to divert water northwards to their fields. He said the canal has been breached four times in the last one and a half kilometers near Pheta Bazaar.
These breaches have obstructed the regular flow of water to Bankul in Rautahat, severely affecting irrigation. As per the current schedule, water is supplied to Parsa district from Sunday to Tuesday, and to Bara and Rautahat from Wednesday to Saturday, according to the irrigation office.
Meanwhile, Chief District Officer (CDO) Basanta Adhikari said authorities are actively investigating and attempting to identify those responsible for damaging the canal banks in Basantapur, Bara.
The problem has worsened due to inadequate water supply from India. As per the Gandak Irrigation and Hydropower Project Agreement signed between Nepal and India on December 4, 1956, India is obligated to provide a total of 850 cusecs of water to the Gandak Canal.
However, over the past week, only 700 cusecs have been released, significantly impacting irrigation in the region. Patel confirmed that the shortfall from the Indian side is adding pressure to an already strained system, forcing desperate measures by farmers.
The Gandak Canal remains a vital lifeline for agriculture in southern Nepal, and the continued disruptions—both manmade and diplomatic—are exacerbating the challenges faced by local farmers.
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