Banke settlements at risk after Rapti washes away embankment

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Aug. 27: Seven villages in Banke district are at a high risk of inundation, after the Rapti River swept away the embankment at Khalla Jhagadia of Raptisonari Rural Municipality.

The settlements in Raptisonari and Narainapur Rural Municipalities are at risk after the flood in the Rapti River caused by incessant rainfall for the past few days washed away the under-construction embankment of Khalla Jhagadia. 

Reconstruction of the embankment, which was washed away by the river last year, commenced a month ago. However, the construction work has been halted midway due to a shortage of stones.

Due to the risk of erosion, the villagers of the risky areas are forced to keep vigil throughout the night to avoid possible danger. 

According to Arun Yadav of Raptisonari Khalla Jhagadia, seven villages in this area are at high risk of flooding after the under-construction embankment was washed away.  The locals have been requesting for the construction of an embankment for one year now – to no avail. As a result, panic gripped the locals when the river began bursting its bank, he added.

The settlement of Deupura, Piprahawa, Khalla Jhagadia, Geduwa, Gangapur, Sonbarsha Khudarbetwa and Kaduwa of the municipalities are at the risk of flood. Every year, the government invests millions of rupees to construct embankments to protect settlements and fertile lands near the Rapti River, but the structures are swept away by the flood every time, cutting the land and leaving the villagers worried.  

Ram Achal Yadav of Devpura village said that after the previously built embankment was destroyed by the last year’s flood, only a few days ago, half of the embankment was built and was left incomplete.

 The People's Embankment Programme allocated Rs. 140 million in the fiscal year 2021/22 and 6.5 million rupees in 2022/23 for river management in Banke. Unfortunately, the investment is going down the drain due to insufficient and ineffective monitoring of construction work.

Suryadev Nayak, an engineer from the People's Embankment Programme, explained that the construction of the embankment couldn't be completed on time due to the late release of the budget.

He pointed out that the issue emerged because the construction work commenced later than intended. The flood in the Rapti River last year swept away embankments and roads in Khalla Jhagadia.

Local residents have expressed their concern, stating that the villages are now in a vulnerable situation as the embankment, which was left unfinished this year, has been washed away again.

Despite their repeated appeal to the concerned authorities for reconstruction of the embankment, the government delayed the release of the budget, worsening the situation.

Every year, the Rapti River causes floods, alarming the settlements nearby. The land near the river is eroded every year, but there are no concrete steps taken to address this serious issue.