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ADB-funded irrigation project in limbo
KATHMANDU, APR 08 -
The Community-Managed Irrigation Agriculture Sector Project (CMIASP), which had been launched in 21 districts of Eastern and Central basins of the country four years ago, has not even been implemented, though the project is expected to be completed by the year 2012.
The project was launched by the government with a loan of $200 million (Rs. 14 billion) provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to irrigate 34,000 hectares of land in 21 districts of the eastern and central regions. The total project cost is $380 million.
Nabin Mangal Joshi, chief of CMIASP, said, “The process and approval for different components of the project is taking longer than it should. The government is tired of accepting ADB’s conditions every time.”
He said that the project has not even been implemented even though the project ends at the end of 2012. “We will not be able to complete the project within the given time. At the same time, the budget allocated for the project is not adequate as the project needs an extension,” Joshi said.
ADB has to agree with even the minor components of the project for implementation and the process took a longer time than expected, he said.
The key element of the CMIASP project is to improve the productivity and sustainability of farmer-managed irrigation systems which cover about 30 percent of the net cultivated area through strengthening farmer-water user associations and improving critical infrastructure along with other necessary support services including agricultural extensions.
The project has allocated around $700 per hectare for the civil works, while the costs have already exceeded to around $1,600 per hectare now.
Joshi said, “The estimated cost for the civil works in 2003 has scaled up with the delay in the implementation of the project. The project cost has now doubled and we lack the adequate budget for a successful implementation,”.
The Community Underground Water Irrigation Sector Project funded by ADB in 12 Tarai districts from Jhapa to Chitwan was also delayed for three years and has failed to achieve the expected goal till date.
The project, worth $450 million, was stated to be launched in 1998 but was instead launched in 2001.
“The project was started at a time when it was scheduled to be completed. We are dubious whether the project will be continued,” said Pramod Raj Sharma, acting director of the Underground Water Development Committee.
Posted on: 2010-04-09 08:10
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