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India accused of blocking Koshi Barrage canal irrigating Nepali land

File: The western canal of Koshi Barrage

Saptari, January 26

Farmers in Saptari district of eastern Nepal have accused India of blocking the western canal of the Koshi Barrage that was irrigating their farmland.

The barrage on the Nepali land is controlled by India, and India had been providing water to farmers in Nepal via two canals, named ‘eastern’ and ‘western’. Now, India has blocked the western canal, depriving hundreds of Nepali farmers of irrigation.

“We used to irrigate our wheat crops with the water received via this canal every year. But, this time, the wheat seeds have already germinated, but there is no water yet,” says Budur Ram, a farmer in Hanuman Nagar Kankalini municipality-1 of Saptari.

The Indian side used to release water into the canal as early as December in the previous years. But, this year, farmers in Hanuman Nagar Kankalini, Bishnupur, Rajgadh, Dakneshwari, and Rajbiraj do not have any idea when and where they will get water from.

“Our hopes have been shattered,” Ramprit Yadav, a farmer in Rajgadh, says, “We are crying now.”

Saptari Chief District Officer Shankar Hari Acharya says the Indian side has claimed the water release has been suspended as the canal is being repaired currently.

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