“We are living in a constant fear of flood as our settlement is enclosed by river. There is Jogbuda River, Mahakali River on this side and Maleriya Rivulet in the middle. It’s not certain when the river will overflow and enter the settlement,” said Devisara Sunar, of Mahakali Municipality-8, Kanchanpur, sharing the nightmare she has been experiencing for years.
She is not the only one. But the residents of all 10 wards of Mahakali Municipality have been at the receiving end of the floods and inundation caused by the rivers. Sometimes the erosion of the river bank eats up the land and houses and, while the other times the rivers enter the settlement and wreak havoc.
The floods not only wash away the land and houses but also claim human lives every year. People shared their harrowing stories during a ‘water discussion’ organized on Tuesday by Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) at Chandani-Dodhara, across Mahakali River.
At the discussion, Mahakali Municipality Deputy Mayor Chini Giri said they have demanded the federal government provide various plans to control the flooding and erosion. She said the municipality has working together with the locals to build embankment by using bio-engineering, such embankment would be expanded to other places.
The program held discussions on erosion of river banks, inundation, and the ways to control flood. Around 47 people including administrative Chief of the Municipality, Ward Chairmen and locals from all the wards were present during the interaction. The participants stressed on the need to bring long-term plans to control the Mahakali river.
The commitments are as follows:
·To take initiatives with the local and federal government for the protection of embankments built at Mahakali River and build additional.
·To bring plans on behalf of the local government to control the flooding at Maleriya and Jogbuda rivers hold talk with Indian side to control flood at Jogbuda Rive.
·To take initiatives to build a safe shelter at Kurtiyakavar in order to resolve the problems faced every year by the residents of Kurtiyakavar ward-10, and ward-8 due to floods, inundation and erosion.
·To allocate planning-oriented budget for the people affected by flood and disaster.
·Local government will formulate a separate plan to minimize and control the damage of flood and inundation.
·The municipality will organize tree plantation program in order to maintain balanced relations between the water, forest and human beings.
·Plan for constructing embankment based on bio-engineering would be brought for the area affected by erosion of bank and inundation.
