Mahakali Irrigation Project

Background

The Mahakali Irrigation Project (Phase III) was initiated following the 1996 Integrated Treaty on the Mahakali River concerning the Sarada Barrage, Tanakpur Barrage, and Pancheshwar Project. According to the treaty, Nepal is entitled to receive $28.35 \text{ m}^3/s$ (1,000 cusecs) of water during the rainy season, $8.5 \text{ m}^3/s$ (300 cusecs) during the winter, and $10 \text{ m}^3/s$ (350 cusecs) for the Dodhara-Chandani area from India’s Tanakpur Barrage for irrigation purposes. Similarly, there is a provision that if the currently operational Banbasa Barrage is closed, the water Nepal has been receiving from it will also be provided through the Tanakpur Barrage. In accordance with these provisions, this project commenced in F.Y. 2063/064 (2006/07), with the Tanakpur Main Canal proposed to emerge from the eastern side of the Tanakpur Barrage and extend to the Tribhuvanbasti area of Kanchanpur district and the Malakheti VDC of Kailali district. It is proposed that India will construct approximately 1,200 meters of the main canal from the barrage to the Nepal border at Brahmadev, after which Nepal will construct the entire remaining irrigation system.