Maoist Center for building dam on Narayani to divert water to Chitwan, Nawalpur

KATHMANDU: The CPN (Maoist Center) has proposed damming the Narayani River at Devghat and diverting water for irrigation to the eastern region of Chitwan and the western region of Nawalpur.

Participating in the discussion on the Appropriation Bill in the House of Representatives on Sunday, Maoist Center Chief Whip Hit Raj Pandey said agricultural productivity and employment opportunities could be increased by providing irrigation to cultivable land in the Tarai and hilly districts.

“Let’s build the Budhigandaki Reservoir project. We can then dam the Narayani River at Devghat and divert water for irrigation to the eastern part of Chitwan and the western part of Nawalpur,” Pandey added.

Expressing happiness over the allocation of more budget for irrigation in the upcoming fiscal year, Pandey requested the government to digitize irrigation systems. “We need to provide year-round irrigation facilities to cultivate land,” he added.

He also urged the government to change the design of hydropower projects considering the impacts of climate change.