Nepal, Aug. 10 -- Farmers of Rautahat are facing problems due to encroachment on the banks of Gandak Canal near Pheta Bazaar in Bara. It may be noted that farmers of southern parts of Parsa, Bara and Rautahat are dependent on the Gandak Canal for irrigation.

With the severe drought in Madhesh Province, farmers in Bara deliberately demolished the banks of the canal and diverted water northwards, leading to the problem. In the last one and a half kilometers near Pheta Bazaar in Bara the Gandak Canal structure has been damaged four times in the last one month to divert water northwards, said Manoj Kumar Patel, head of the Narayani Irrigation Management Office.

The breach in the canal has been obstructing the flow of water to Bankul in Raut...