The irrigation channel worth over Nu 18 M in Kanakha village of Dagana is expected to be completed within a few months. It was supposed to be ready by October last year but the pandemic and procurement of pipes delayed the work progress. Since the paddy transplantation season is next month, the villagers of Kanakha in Kana Gewog are worried that they will not be able to cultivate paddy this year.
The construction of the 4.8-kilometre irrigation channel began in October 2021. The farmers of Kanakha village did not cultivate paddy last year as the construction work was ongoing. But the contractor informed them that he would construct a temporary irrigation channel. However, the farmers left the land fallow asking the contractor to speed up the work instead.
“When the contractor told us about the temporary channel, we unanimously refused and requested the contractor to complete the project with good quality. But this year if the irrigation water fails to reach our fields, we will suffer,” said Tika Ram Bhattarai, a resident.
“The government has helped us in providing budget but the water has not reached our fields. We are suffering a lot. The paddy transplantation season is two months away,” said Ugyen, another resident.
“Since the farmers here depend on paddy, they are worried. The fields were left fallow last year. I used to tell the villagers that this year we will be able to cultivate paddy this year. The contractor is trying to complete the work and even the district administration is worried. Dzongda visited the site three to four times,” said Gyembo, Lhaling Tshogpa.
For now, the contractor has completed the construction of tanks and chambers at the sources. Pema Chophel, the contractor who is executing the work said that most of the pipes have been delivered to the site and the remaining will be transported soon.
The contractor added that the work including laying pipes and installing a few control valves in the tanks at the source will be completed within two months. Even if the construction work does not complete on time, the contractor said he will arrange a temporary irrigation channel from the nearby stream for this year’s paddy transplantation.
According to the district engineer, the contractor has missed two deadlines so far.
As per the contract terms, the contractor should have completed the work by October last year. But due to the pandemic, we have extended the period. He was supposed to complete it by the 3rd of April. But he has again appealed to extend as he could not find the pipe fitting equipment. And even we found out that it is not easily available. But the equipment has reached Jaigaon now,” said Jamyang Dorji, District Engineer.
Besides paddy transplantation, the farmers of Kanakha depend on orange, cardamom and vegetables. Once the irrigation channel is complete, the villagers are expected to grow winter crops.
“Kanakha under Kana gewog has a potential for cereals and vegetables and cardamom. With the completion of the channel, it would help to boost production and even cultivate winter crops,” said Devi Charan Bhandari, District Agriculture Officer.
The project is funded by the Water Flagship Programme.
Krishna Ghalley, Dagana
Edited by Tshering Zam
