Mahendranagar, May. 3:A team comprising senior advisor at the Water-Induced Disaster Prevention Centre Kojikami, MP Ramesh Lekhak and director of the centre Kedar Prasad Rijal made an on-the-spot inspection of the barrage being constructed by jica along the west bank of the Mahakali river.

Construction work on the barrage had begun in 2051 bs and His Majesty’s Government has already spent Rs. 43 million on the project.

A barrage portion of about 350 metres has been constructed so far. The total length of the barrage is 12 KM and the target is to construct some 500 metres  more this fiscal year.

Local people are of the opinion that the government should give high priority to completion of the project as Dodhara and Chadni vdcs can be fully protected from inundation by the Mahakali river once the construction work extends from Belbas to Kutiyakawar.

Mp lekhak, expressing satisfaction over the progress made, expressed confidence jica would extend cooperation till the completion of the project.

Hmg has carried out a survey through Trikona Construction with an outlay of Rs. 1.5 million in order to install a suspension bridge over the Mahakali.

Although the inundation problem arising from the Mahakali river can be brought under control with this barrage, the Jogbudha river lying to the west poses a constant threat of inundation for both the vdcs, said Man Bahadur Sunar, Nepali Congress general convention representative.