Kanchanpur, June 8 -- It's nearly two decades since work began on the third phase of the Mahakali Irrigation Project.

A 28-kilometre central canal from Brahmadev to Phaleli in Shuklaphanta Municipality has been completed. An additional 20 kilometres of canal, stretching from Phaleli to Godawari in Kailali, is still under construction.

Half of the 22 branch canals planned along the 28 kilometres of the completed main canal have already been built, while the other half are underway.

If water were to be released from the Tanakpur barrage, farmers could irrigate their fields through at least half of these branches. However, despite the completion and even testing of the canal, water has yet to flow-largely due to hesitation on the Indian s...