Indian excavator taken under control for trying to change course of Mahakali

Lokendra Joshi, Darchula, Dec 22: Locals in Khalanga, district headquarters of Darchula, have taken under control a JCB excavator with Indian number plates that tried to change the course of the Mahakali River.

The Indian excavator along with its operator has been handed over to the police.

Despite locals' widespread protest, the Indian side has been unilaterally erecting embankment along the Mahakali in such a way that the course of the boundary river gets pushed toward Nepal.

Locals blamed the Indian side for taking away construction materials from the Nepali side of the river which ultimately changes the course of the river. The Indian side, they say, has been obstructing to any embankment construction on the Nepali side.

The locals said India violated international law by constructing the embankment without consulting Nepal as the construction on the border side should be held in consultation of the two countries.

Mahesh Bhatta, a local, said the Indian side always shows jingoism on the border and 'despite our protest here our government side has not taken any concrete action'.

Sundar Dhami, another local, said that Indian has now captured the land which was Nepal's territory before the floods in the Mahakali over a decade ago in 2013.

Chief District Officer (CDO) of Darchula said that both the JCB and its operator were in Nepal side and that the operator was being investigated.

According to the CDO, the operator has said that the excavator crossed toward Nepal mistakenly and that he had no other intention.