Kathmandu: Amid an alarming shortage of drinking water and irrigation caused by extremely low monsoon rainfall, four federal ministers held a high-level meeting on Monday to discuss urgent interventions in Madhesh Province.
The meeting, initiated by Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ramnath Adhikari, brought together Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Dipak Khadka, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya, and Minister for Drinking Water Pradeep Yadav. Secretaries from all four ministries were also present at the meeting, held at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.
Minister Adhikari informed the gathering that his ministry has already deployed a technical team to assess the impact of insufficient rainfall on rice plantation in the region. “We will take immediate steps based on the findings and recommendations of the field team,” he said.
A major outcome of the meeting was the formation of a task force comprising joint secretaries from the four ministries. The task force has been mandated to identify pressing issues and recommend rapid solutions to address the dual crisis of drinking water and irrigation.
Highlighting the scale of the problem, Water Resources and Irrigation Secretary Sarita Dawadi revealed that only about 50 percent of the Terai region currently has access to irrigation. She stressed the potential of underground water as a viable solution for both drinking and irrigation needs.
Minister Adhikari underscored the government’s priority in addressing the plight of farmers and emphasized the need for strong inter-ministerial coordination. Minister Khadka echoed similar concerns, stating, “The government is committed to resolving the crisis promptly. All ministries must work in close coordination to ensure swift implementation.”
The prolonged dry spell has severely affected eight districts in Madhesh, raising fears of a deepening agricultural and water supply crisis if timely interventions are not made.