A STUDY OF CONJUNCTIVE U.S.E IN CHANDRA CANAL COMMAND IN NEPAL

Abstract

The Chandra canal system is an old canal running since 1926 off-taking from Trijuga river, a tributary of the river Koshi, in Saptari district in Nepal. Because of water deficiency during non-monsoon period , the land resources in the command area of the canal are not fully utilised, and only limited surface water is being supplied to the command area .According to existing cropping pattern during rabi season, the water deficit during 2 half of December to Ist half of February is 1 cumec. There is no other perennial river except the river Koshi which flows at a depth of 10 m below the full supply level of the canal. Water also can not be pumped directly from the river which contains lot of fine silt even during lean flow period. However, ground water can be used for irrigation. Therefore, it is proposed to withdraw ground water by constructing a battery of wells to augment main canal supply. Part of the water pumped can be applied locally in the upstream side where there exists a good aquifer and the remaining pumped water can be transported through the existing canal to the command area in the downstream...