Tanakpur Barrage, Kanchanpur
The Tanakpur Barrage is an important hydraulic structure located on the Mahakali River (known as the Sarda River in India) between Brahmadev town and Tanakpur town. On the Nepal side, the barrage is closely connected to Brahmadev town, part of Bhimdatt Municipality in the Kanchanpur District. On the india side Tanakpur Town is in Uttarakhand, India. The primary purpose of the Tanakpur Barrage is to provide irrigation, hydropower generation, and flood control for both India and Nepal (Pandey, 2021). The construction of this barrage has played a crucial role in regional water management, ensuring that agricultural lands in both countries are adequately irrigated and that electricity needs are partially met through the hydropower generated by the barrage.
The Mahakali Treaty, signed in 1996 between India and Nepal, is a pivotal agreement for the integrated development of the Mahakali River. Under this treaty, both nations agreed on joint efforts to construct dams and hydroelectric power projects, with the Tanakpur Barrage being a major point of discussion (Upadhyay, 2019). One of the most important components of the treaty was the Pancheshwar Project, which aims to generate substantial hydroelectric power while benefiting from flood control and irrigation (Ministry of Water Resources, 2020). The Tanakpur Barrage negotiations helped Nepal secure water rights and electricity from the barrage, thus making it a symbol of bilateral cooperation and shared benefits in water resource management.
For Nepal, the Tanakpur Barrage ensures a fixed supply of water for irrigation in the far western region, including areas such as Brahmadev. Additionally, the electricity generated from the barrage is shared, with Nepal receiving a specified amount of energy as part of the Mahakali Treaty negotiations (Pandey, 2021). This agreement has been instrumental in ensuring that both countries benefit equitably from the barrage, which provides irrigation to thousands of hectares of farmland and contributes to rural electrification. The strategic location of the barrage also allows it to control seasonal flooding, which benefits communities living along the Mahakali River’s banks (Upadhyay, 2019).
The flood control measures provided by the Tanakpur Barrage have helped mitigate the damage caused by seasonal monsoons, which historically posed a significant threat to the agricultural communities in the region. By regulating the river’s flow, the barrage prevents water overflow during peak seasons, thus protecting large tracts of fertile farmland from being submerged (Ministry of Water Resources, 2020). This ability to regulate water flow has improved agricultural yields and ensured food security for thousands of farmers in both India and Nepal, making the barrage a lifeline for the region’s agrarian economy.
In conclusion, the Tanakpur Barrage stands as a critical piece of infrastructure in the Indo-Nepal cooperation over the Mahakali River. The Mahakali Treaty cemented the rights of both countries to share the resources provided by the river, particularly in terms of irrigation, hydropower, and flood management (Upadhyay, 2019). Through its integrated water management system, the barrage has greatly improved agricultural productivity, rural electrification, and the overall quality of life for communities on both sides of the border. The Tanakpur Barrage remains a testament to the successful collaboration between the two nations in managing shared water resources for mutual benefit.
