Summary:

Japan handed over the rehabilitated Chandra Nahar Irrigation System in Bhagni Maleth, Saptari district, Nepal, following a grant aid project worth JPY 2.256 billion (around NPR 2.05 billion). The handover took place on January 28, 2026, with officials from Nepal’s Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI), the Japanese Embassy, and JICA present.

Originally built in 1927, the Chandra Nahar was Nepal’s first modern irrigation system but had deteriorated significantly over nearly 95 years, reducing water flow by about 80% and risking structural failure. The rehabilitation involved repairing 32 critical structures along the main canal, including underpasses, drainage works, and bridges.

The upgraded system now reliably supplies water to approximately 11,000 hectares of farmland, benefiting around 35,000 farming households in eastern Terai. Officials highlighted the project’s historic significance linked to early 20th-century Nepal-Japan educational exchanges and stressed its contribution to improving agricultural productivity, water security, and sustainable community development in the region. JICA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nepal’s agriculture and water resource sectors for socio-economic growth.

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