By Lokendra Joshi, Darchula, Jan 3:  India has been constructing a dyke by encroaching the Mahakali River, a river that borders Nepal and India, at the border side of Darchula district headquarters of Khalanga.

A flood in the Mahakali River had swept 156 houses along with a dozen governmental offices in 2013.

Residents of Khalanga that faced a huge loss of wealth and property seven years ago due to Dhauliganga dam of India have now worried about the construction of embankment by encroaching Mahakali River these days.

In a bid to minimize flood-induced disasters and losses, when Nepal started to construct a dyke on the bank of the Mahakali River in 2013, India had objected to it and obstructed the construction.

At that time India had told Nepal to construct an embankment far from riverside to save its areas from the possible flood.

Then, following the request of India, Nepal has been constructing the embankment by maintaining approximately 100 meters' distance from the river bank.

But, on the opposite side, in the Indian part, India has been constructing a dam by encroaching the river unilaterally.

To halt the construction of embankment in the river at the Indian side, Darchula District Administration had written a letter to Sub-district officer of Dharchula Pithauragadh of India on Dec 17, 2020. But construction of the dyke has been continuing unabatedly.

Nepali authorities are silent while the construction of dyke by using excavators into the river is going on.

Chief District Officer of Darchula Sharad Kumar Pokharel said that he had already informed the central government regarding the activities of India.

We are waiting for the response from the Foreign Affairs Ministry as the Indian side turned a deaf air to our letter.

Pokharel said the letter was already sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Foreign and Affairs but no response was received from both the ministries as yet.

He said that it's not fair to undertake any construction in the bordering river without coordination between the two countries.

'The flood that occurred in the Mahakali River on 16 June 2013 changed the physical form of the border as it swept away the settlements in both sides of Nepal and India. Consequently, Galfai area's Bhauradagad of Mahakali Municipality- 5 and the district hospital then located near the bank of the river fell across the river as the river changed its course. The place where India is constructing an embankment now is in fact Nepal's territory although it is across the river due to the flooding in 2013. Therefore, we request to stop the construction of the embankment wall at the place where it is being presently constructed for the fact that the land belongs to Nepal," read a part of the letter sent to Indian authority which was undersigned by Assistant Chief District Officer Jyotsna Bhatta Joshi.

District Administration Office had sent a letter to the home ministry regarding the matter the same day. However, about 100 workers have been continuing the construction of the embankment.

Shovakhar Paudel, chief of Mahakali River Control Project, questioned, "How can India do this unilaterally? We won't leave our land even an inch.'

If India makes the dam unilaterally, residents of Darchula will be evacuated forcefully.  

Chief of Mahakali Municipality Hansha Raj Bhatta said the area where India was constructing the dam belongs to Nepal.