111 Bighas of Land Encroached in Sunsari-Morang Irrigation Project, 2,733 Structures Built

A total of 111 bighas 5 katthas 3 dhur of land under the Sunsari-Morang Irrigation Project have been encroached upon, resulting in the construction of 2,733 houses, buildings, temples, and ashrams. The project authorities have written to the administration requesting legal action and assistance in removing the encroachments and preserving the land.

Although some land was cleared in 2015 (2072 BS), full clearance could not be achieved. Recently, 20 days ago, the project communicated again with the district administration to initiate the process of vacating the encroached land.

The project covers a main canal stretching 53 kilometers from northern Sunsari’s Barahakshetra Municipality (Koshi Naya Pul) to Budhnagar in Morang, with 19 branch and sub-branch canals spanning 203 kilometers, and smaller branch canals totaling 234 kilometers. Unauthorized physical structures have been built on the canal embankments and surrounding lands, according to the project.

A letter signed by Senior Divisional Engineer Tej Rizal highlights that the land encroachment is damaging irrigation facilities. It requests that violators be prosecuted under existing laws and calls for cooperation to protect the colony areas, the main canal, and the branch-sub-branch canal systems.

Project acting director Manohar Kumar Sah stated that efforts and facilitation from the administrative offices of Sunsari and Morang districts are expected to maintain the irrigation system’s effectiveness and protect government property. The letter has also been submitted to the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation, Jawalakhel.