Introduction

The Mahakali Irrigation System is one of the major irrigation systems of the Terai region. This system has been providing irrigation services to four local levels of Kanchanpur District in Sudurpashchim Province. According to the 1996 agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Government of India, water is supplied to this system from the Sharada Barrage of the Mahakali River (which was constructed by the British Indian Government in 1928). During the monsoon season, 28.35 cumecs (1000 cusecs) of water is supplied from 15 May to 15 October, and during the winter season, 4.25 cumecs (150 cusecs) of water is supplied from 16 October to 14 May by the Government of India. The Shuklaphanta National Park divides this irrigation system into two parts. The construction of the first phase of the Mahakali Irrigation System was completed in 1988. Under this phase, an irrigated area of 5,100 hectares lies within Bhimdatta Municipality and Bedkot Municipality of Kanchanpur District. Under the first phase, the main canal extends from the headworks to Daiji. The length of the main canal from the headworks to Kalikich is 35.758 km (20.054 km up to Balma Siphon and 15.704 km from Balma Siphon to Kalikich), and the design discharge is 1000 cusecs (28.35 cumecs). The construction of the second phase of the Mahakali Irrigation System was completed in 1997. Under the second phase, this system has been providing irrigation facilities to an irrigated area of 6,500 hectares in Beldandi Rural Municipality and Belauri Municipality. From Kalikich, the main canal is divided into two branches. One is the Shivnagar Main Branch Canal, which has a length of 21.127 km, an irrigated area of 3,400 hectares, and a design discharge of 3.49 cumecs. The other is the Belauri Main Branch Canal (M3), which has a length of 16.243 km, an irrigated area of 3,100 hectares, and a design discharge of 3.53 cumecs.