Locals block efforts to redirect Narayani's flow to Nawalpur

By Bomlal Giri,Nawalpur, Jan. 5: Residents of Gaindakot Municipality’s Ward Nos 10 and 11 in Nawalpur have obstructed efforts to change the flow of the Narayani River, which runs along the boundary of the two wards. River-affected locals disrupted the work, halting the operation to redirect the river.

According to Baburam Bishwakarma, Chief of the District Coordination Committee, two bulldozers were deployed on Thursday and Friday to change the river’s flow, but local protestors forced the work to stop. 

Residents argue that they have not received compensation for the damage caused by the 2001 Narayani River flood and that altering the river's course could heighten the risk of floods during the monsoon. The affected communities are demanding immediate relief as ordered by the court, the construction of embankments to prevent future flooding and the redirection of the river to its original course. 

Narayan Thanet, a flood-affected resident of Devchuli Municipality-17, said that if the authorities cannot provide relief, they should ensure the river flows along its original channel to prevent further damage during the rainy season. Historically, the Narayani flowed through the Piprahar area of Devchuli.

The 2001 flood turned over 100 bighas of fertile land into barren riverbeds, with over 60 bighas in Piprahar alone. Residents fear further damage if the river is not restored to its original path, said Balkrishna Kandel, chairperson of the Pithauli Region Management Committee.

In response, the Mayor of Devchuli Municipality Hari Prasad Neupane stressed the need for federal government intervention to address the issue. He called for presenting a memorandum to Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, highlighting the need for embankments and relief for the affected communities. 

“Your demands are valid. While I cannot handle this alone, we must organise and present our concerns to the Prime Minister and I will facilitate the process,” Neupane assured.

On Thursday, efforts were made to redirect the Narayani's flow to Nawalpur using bulldozers. This initiative, coordinated by the District Coordination Committee, involved Gaindakot Municipality, Devchuli Municipality, Kawasoti Municipality, Chitwan National Park, the Division Forest Office, the District Administration and police forces.

Excessive excavation has deepened the riverbed, causing more water to flow through the southern channel (Chitwan area) and leaving the northern channel (Nawalpur area) dry during winter. This has disrupted religious and domestic activities, such as ash dispersal and post-cremation cleansing.

Conservationists warned that altering the river's flow endangers gharial crocodile habitats and creates water scarcity for rhinos. Additionally, Bishnu Adhikari, Chairperson of the Rhino Conservation Coordination Committee in Nawalpur, said that eco-tourism activities and river-dependent flora and fauna in the Nawalpur region are severely impacted.

A drying northern channel allows wildlife from Chitwan National Park to enter human settlements in Nawalpur, increasing human-wildlife conflicts, according to Adhikari, Chairman of Gaindakot Ward No. 11.

The Narayani River splits into two channels near Sikaruli Ghat, a few kilometres downstream from the Narayanghat Bridge. These channels converge at Amaltari Ghat, but the northern channel from Sikaruli to Amaltari has nearly dried up. 

This has affected not only aquatic and terrestrial wildlife but also a significant population of indigenous communities like the Bote, Majhi and Musahar, who rely on the river for their livelihoods.