Delays in the release of funds have hampered the effective operation of the Irrigation and Water Resources Management Project Office in Dadeldhura, established in July of the current fiscal year.

The office, set up in Kirtipur under the federal Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, has reported a budget crunch that has stalled its core functions.

The project, launched to expand irrigation infrastructure, strengthen river control, and improve water resource management, has faced administrative and policy hurdles since its inception.

Arun Kumar Shah, chief of the project office, noted that a budget of Rs 355.2 million was allocated at the start of the fiscal year for five major programmes. However, funds were frozen in the early stages, halting progress.

“The budget was allocated at the beginning, but as a new project, we were conducting studies for the tender process,” Shah said. “Following the Gen Z movement in September, the ministry directed that projects without Detailed Project Reports (DPR) would have their budgets frozen.”

Only around Rs80 million has since been released, allowing limited progress on a few schemes. Some projects have reached the agreement stage, but overall implementation remains slow.

Capital expenditure stands at zero, while recurrent expenditure is around 25 percent.

The project covers Dadeldhura, Doti, Bajura and Achham, and includes river control works on the West Seti, Budhiganga and Thuligad rivers.

Officials warn that continued delays could heighten flood and erosion risks during the monsoon and affect agricultural productivity and local development.