KATHMANDU, April 24 -- The Barbara Adams Investigative Journalism Award 2018 has been jointly awarded to journalists duo Rudra Khadka and Arjun Oli for their series of news reports on the irregularities in the Sikta Irrigation project based in Banke. The stories were published both in Nagarik and Republica dailies.

According to a press statement issued by Barbara Foundation, the award jury reviewed 45 news reports on Sikta, many of them filed from the ground in Banke, offering details on the deep-seated corruption in the government and among project officials. This ultimately resulted in substandard irrigation canals.

Their reports drew national attention toward the dire straits of the national pride project and forced parliament to loo...