KATHMANDU, Jan 28: The rehabilitation of the Chandra Nahar Irrigation System in Saptari district has been completed with financial support from the Government of Japan, the Embassy of Japan said in a press statement on Wednesday.
A completion ceremony for “The Project for the Rehabilitation of Irrigation System in Eastern Terai Area” was held on January 28 at the Chandra Nahar Irrigation Area in Madhesh Province, the press release said.
Constructed in 1927, Chandra Nahar is one of Nepal’s oldest irrigation systems. Prior to the rehabilitation, the main canal facilities had severely deteriorated, limiting water flow to around 80 percent of the designed capacity and posing risks of leakage and structural collapse, creating challenges for a stable supply of irrigation water, according to the press statement.
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The project involved the rehabilitation of 32 facilities along the main canal. It was implemented following an Exchange of Notes between the governments of Nepal and Japan in September 2022. The Government of Japan provided a grant assistance of 2.3 billion yen for the project, the release stated.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Nepal, Yasuharu Shinto, said that the rehabilitation would ensure efficient water supply and significantly improve agricultural productivity in the area. He expressed hope that the improved irrigation system would contribute to better livelihoods for farmers and local residents and serve as a foundation for sustainable community development.
He also called on all stakeholders, including farmers, to continue efforts to properly maintain and preserve the century-old irrigation system for future generations, according to the press release.
The completion of the project coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan this year. Agricultural support and irrigation technology cooperation represent Japan’s longest-standing economic cooperation with Nepal, the Embassy of Japan said in the press release, expressing hope that the project will contribute to sustainable regional development and further strengthen bilateral ties.
