Khurkot (sindhuli), June 26 -- Despite high priority status of the Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project-the much-anticipated national pride project and a key to transforming agriculture in Tarai districts of Madhesh Province-progress on dam construction remains abysmally slow with only 7 percent work completed even though half the contract period has already passed.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, during a visit to Madhesh province's headquarters Janakpur in May, had sternly warned that the government would terminate the contract of the project if work did not accelerate. He emphasised that people in the Madhesh region could no longer leave their farmlands fallow while awaiting irrigation. "Delays in development projects are more ...