Underground irrigation boosts farming in Nuwakot

To make farmers self-reliant, underground irrigation systems are being constructed in various parts of Nuwakot to provide much-needed convenience. Construction has commenced in Bidur Municipality-9, 10 and Panchakanya Rural Municipality-1, aiming to irrigate 8,000 ropanis of land across four locations.

The initiative follows a study conducted by a technical team to address the challenges faced by farmers in irrigating cultivable land situated above continuously flowing rivers. An on-site inspection at Sukkhatars, Nuwakot, involving people's representatives and technicians, laid the groundwork for this project. Ramesh Kumar Mahat, a member of the Bagmati Province Assembly, laid the foundation stone for the project at Gerkhu, Bidur Municipality-10, stating that it would facilitate vegetable and crop production for local farmers. 

Mahat emphasized maintaining quality in the construction work and highlighted the initiative as a solution to Nuwakot’s ‘dry tars’ problem, where fertile lands lie dry despite rivers flowing below. Mayor Rajan Shrestha of Bidur Municipality shared plans to drill 102 meters deep to extract water for irrigation. The cost for digging stands at Rs 11,000 per meter, and the work is being carried out under the Federal Ministry of Energy and Irrigation.

Simultaneous construction of underground irrigation systems is underway in Colony of Bidur-9, Gerkhutar of Bidur-10, and Aapchaur of Panchakanya-1. The Integrated River Basin Irrigation and Water Resources Management Program, in coordination with the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation, is spearheading the deep boring construction to alleviate irrigation challenges faced by farmers.

The project, currently in its first phase, will expand in the second and third phases to include additional irrigation canals, tanks, pipelines, irrigation ditches, and reserve tanks, ensuring water reaches farmers’ fields. The comprehensive plan aims to increase agricultural productivity, enhance self-reliance, and create self-employment opportunities for local farmers. 

Mayor Shrestha noted that the lift technology irrigation system would address the depletion of fertile lands due to a lack of water, significantly benefiting general farmers. With continuous efforts from the technical team and support from the government, the initiative is expected to bring transformative change to the dry lands of Nuwakot, advancing agricultural self-sufficiency in the region.