Huge economic revolution is possible: Dr. Baburam Bhattarai

Nepal Views

Kathmandu: Nepal Samajwadi Party Chairperson and Former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has observed the progress of the Sunkoshi Marine Diversion Multipurpose Project.

Dr. Bhattarai visited the site along with Internal Affairs Minister Ganga Narayan Shrestha and another minister on Thursday.

Dr. Bhattarai predicted the possibility of an economic revolution in case of facilitating the irrigation in Terai by diverting the east-west flowing river. He said, ‘These are revolutionary projects. We must highly prioritize such projects. A huge economic revolution is possible with the diversion of rivers like Kaligandaki, Trishuli, Sunkoshi, etc. for irrigation purposes in the Terai region.’

Chinese Company is furiously digging a tunnel for the National Pride Project. The project focuses on the construction of a dam to provide irrigation to the five districts of the Terai region. It also aims to generate 31.6 Megawatt electricity from the river passing through Sindhuli and Ramechhap. After the construction of the headwork in Khurkot, Sindhuli, the water from the Sunkoshi River would be channeled to the Marine River through the 13.2-kilometer tunnel.

The water through the tunnel, from Khurkot, would reach the 64-foot tall head in Kamalamai Municipality-2, Kusumtar, Sindhuli. The head has been constructed on the bank of the Marin River. After the production of the electricity, the water would reach the Bagmati River through the Marin River.

The main target of the Bagmati Irrigation Project is to irrigate 1 lakh 22 thousand hectares of land. About 45 thousand hectares of land are being irrigated under the campaign at the present moment.

A powerhouse with 44 kilometers long Power transmission line, would be constructed under the same project in Kusumtar.

The project that started in 2077 Falgun (Feb/Mar 2021 A.D.) would be finished by 2082/83 B.S (2026/27 A.D.). China Overseas Engineering Company has got the responsibility of digging the tunnel. The estimated budget of the overall project is 5 thousand million rupees (50 Arba).