Irrigation Day has been celebrated by organizing a morning procession and main ceremony in Deukhuri, Dang, Lumbini Province. In a program organized by the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation on Wednesday, Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya said that the government will focus on making the relationship between irrigation management and agricultural production more effective.

Chief Minister Acharya said that the drying up of rivers and streams and the drying up of land due to climate change is a serious challenge. He said that timely debate, discussion and concrete plans are needed to prevent the destruction of productive land. 'The problem may increase as rivers dry up. It is necessary to protect water sources by building reservoirs,' he said. 'If we are not sensitive, productive land will remain in a state of destruction. Alternatively, it is necessary to move forward by building dams and reservoirs.' He said that the state government is committed to connecting farmers to production, stating that the situation of land remaining barren should be ended even in areas where irrigation facilities have been provided.

Recalling that when the province was established, only 20 percent of the land was irrigated for 12 months, he informed that it has now reached 35 percent. Encouraged by this achievement, he said that irrigation development should be taken forward in a scientific and sustainable manner.

Chief Minister Acharya pointed out the need to construct reservoirs, dams and implement water conservation measures in the Chure region to conserve water resources. He warned that the decreasing groundwater level and drying up of rivers and streams could lead to a major crisis in the future.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Sita Sharma Chaudhary said at the program that the provincial government is increasing the expansion of the area that is irrigated for all twelve months. Former Chief Minister Jokh Bahadur Mahara said that the irrigation sector should be prioritized as the basis for agricultural development. Former Irrigation Minister Bir Bahadur Rana said that the basis for becoming self-reliant in production has been prepared and that work should be done to win the hearts of farmers.

Provincial Planning Commission member Shantadevi Dhakal emphasized on strengthening irrigation infrastructure by prioritizing the agricultural sector. Secretary of the Praganna Kulo Irrigation System Water User Organization Main Coordination Committee Bhimlal Chaudhary said that the government should pay attention to expanding the irrigation area for the development of the agricultural sector.

Ministry Secretary Churna Bahadur Oli presented the details of the progress made so far. Representatives related to the Babai Irrigation Project and Naumure Multipurpose Project expressed their views on the status and challenges of the project.

Praganna Kulo Irrigation System Water User Organization Main Coordination Committee, Deukhuri was honored as the best water user committee. Similarly, Hari Prasad Awasthi, Technical Officer of the Water Resources and Irrigation Development Division Office, Bardiya, and Pom Narayan Subedi, Office Assistant of Gulmi, were awarded as the best employee.