Just a few days ago in Siraha, rainfall prompted farmers to plant as much as possible despite the shortage of irrigation. On 2 Dec 2022, the headworks of a canal were rebuilt at Khuttikhola in Lahan Municipality-10, with assurances that it would provide irrigation. The Water Resources and Irrigation Development Division Office, Siraha, had signed an agreement with Multitech Construction Company for the construction of the headworks at a cost of Rs 85m, ultimately paying Rs 86m upon completion.
Nearly four years later, however, the structure has failed to provide any support to farmers.
Instead, politics has overshadowed the canal project. Construction remains uncertain due to disputes. Since the headworks were built at a location downstream of the water level, no water has been able to flow into the canal. This prompted the Office of the Auditor General to raise questions about the design in its 2024 annual report. “During the on-site inspection of the project, the headworks were built at a higher elevation than the river water level. This indicated that water could not be collected or distributed through the headworks without design improvements and additional construction work. As the design and contract placed the headworks at a higher elevation than the river water, operation assurance must be ensured,” the report stated.
During the foundation stone-laying ceremony, officials had declared the project would cost Rs 180m, promising that water would flow through the canal and even create a water park. The plan was to use the remaining funds for culvert construction and canal drainage. At that time, a culvert was also built from Grameen Chowk to the West Canal near JS Campus. But after the Auditor General’s report raised concerns, no additional budget was approved.
In the current fiscal year 2025/26, the Madhesh Province government allocated only Rs 1.5m for the canal. On Aug 4, the Irrigation Office, Siraha, awarded a contract worth Rs 800,000 to Shivam Construction of Lahan Municipality-1 for canal cleaning and drainage. However, when the gate of the headworks was opened and tested after the work was completed, river water did not flow into the canal. Instead, water that had accumulated in the canal flowed back into the river.
The gate has been ceremonially opened twice after performing pujas, but without success. Local resident Hanif Rain said, “Millions were spent on this project. The irrigation chief, technical staff, and contractor colluded in its construction.” He made a video of the issue and shared it publicly.
Another local, Devraj Pokharel, said, “There was no transparency or community discussion. Everything was done for their own convenience. If the canal is deepened further, locals will suffer. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority should investigate and take action.”
After canal cleaning began, Hemant Yadav, chairperson of the Lahan Nagar Committee of the CPN-Maoist Center and leader of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, claimed water would flow within a week. But even after two weeks, no water has reached the canal. He now argues that if the canal is properly managed, water will flow. Meanwhile, the roads along the canal have begun sinking after excavation. However, Hasmat Ansari, head of the Siraha Irrigation Office, insists that more digging is needed due to level mismatches.
A technical team from the Irrigation Office recently re-examined the site. Irrigation sub-engineer Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said, “There is soil blockage up to 90 cm in places. Removing it will allow some water to rise. The culvert at Grameen Chowk will need to be demolished to divert water to the West Canal.”
According to Survey Office Lahan’s fieldbook, a culvert is recorded on land parcels Lot No 82 (15 katta 6 dhur) and Lot No 21 (1 bigha 17 katta 2 dhur). However, the landowner or responsible office is not mentioned. The culvert divides the canal southward and westward from Grameen Chowk. The Irrigation Office claims the canal could irrigate over 935 bighas across wards 2, 11, 12, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23 of Lahan Municipality, along with areas of Laxmipur Patari, Sakhuwanankarkatti, and Bhagwanpur rural municipalities. The canal itself was dug more than 60 years ago. Today, much of it lies in market areas where locals have filled sections to create farmland.
Locals warn that releasing floodwater directly into the canal will increase risks in surrounding areas. According to elders, the canal dates back to the time of Prime Minister Chandra Shamsher. Initially, it provided some irrigation, but the headworks were washed away by floods within months. No further budget was allocated afterward. Later, when Bal Krishna Khand was irrigation minister, local leaders requested funding for new headworks. The ministry instructed the Water Resources and Irrigation Office to form a committee, but staff secretly appointed UML leader and then-mayor Muni Sah as chairperson. Despite repeated ministry requests, the committee received no funds.
On 2 Dec 2020, the Irrigation Office signed a contract for new headworks. On 8 Nov 2021, Mayor Sah laid the foundation stone, awarding the project to BP JV Lahan-7 for Rs 28m from the 2020/21 municipal budget. The contractor, who signed the agreement on 27 Dec 2020, was required to finish by 1 Nov 2021. However, due to poor construction, the concrete structure collapsed before completion, further blocking the canal. Crores of rupees in government investment were wasted.
In the 2022 local elections, Congress candidate Mahesh Chaudhary defeated Sah to become mayor. Chaudhary resumed canal work by allocating Rs 80m from the 2024/25 municipal budget. The plan included building an underground drainage system to channel water south from the headworks and improving roads. Initially, there was no opposition when the DPR was published, the contract announced, and the foundation stone laid. But once construction began, a Kisan Sangharsh Committee was formed, and protests erupted. During demonstrations, structures built on the canal were vandalized.
The committee later filed a case at the Rajbiraj High Court, which issued an interim order to continue work in a balanced way without damaging the canal’s appearance. The writ was eventually dismissed, as the court ruled the petitioners’ demands were insufficient.
