Dispute obstructs Narayani River embankment construction

By Bomlal Giri,Nawalpur, Feb.1: The construction of an embankment along the Narayani River has come to a standstill because of a political dispute.

Chitwan National Park had set a deadline of January 29 for the embankment construction in Balghatta, Madhyabindu Municipality-2, Nawalpur, to prevent river erosion. However, work was halted following political disagreements, according to Ward Chairperson Ram Bhakta Adhikari of Madhyabindu-2.

Last year, on September 28 and 29, floods in the Narayani River destroyed the existing embankment, leading to the inundation of settlements in Ward Nos. 2, 4, 6, 12, and 15 of Madhyabindu Municipality. Although there were no human casualties, fertile land turned into barren sandbanks, and many families were displaced. 

The settlements of Nandpur, Sitapur and Dhajah now face an even greater risk due to ongoing river erosion.

To prevent further flooding, the Narayani River Management Project in Chitwan initiated an embankment construction project in Balghatta with an estimated budget of Rs. 100 million. 

The project included installing gabion wire mesh, placing large stones along the riverbank, and constructing concrete block embankments. However, the municipality has announced that the work has been postponed until mid-March.

Locals blame the political dispute for the deadlock, alleging that the personal interests of certain leaders of the ruling parties, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, have hindered progress.  They expressed concerns that last year’s floods caused severe damage, and without immediate action, the situation could worsen in the upcoming monsoon. Dilliram Thanet, a flood victim, stated that the political dispute has only added to their worries.  Another local, Narayan Prasad Thanet, shared his worries that if the embankment was not completed before the rainy season, settlements along the riverbanks could face severe flooding. The Narayani River Management Project also confirmed that the construction has been halted due to political dispute. 

Project division engineer Prakash Lamsal said that the disagreement had prevented further progress.

Three days before the deadline set by Chitwan National Park, some individuals allegedly issued threats, leading to the suspension of work, said ward chairperson Adhikari. He claimed that during a field inspection, conservation officers from the Amaltari West Sector reported receiving direct threats, prompting them to halt the project.

“The embankment is being constructed to protect locals and fertile land in Ward Nos. 2, 6, 12, and 15. 

However, Sridhar Sharma Bhattarai, a local leader and the Member Secretary of the Gandaki Province’s Sports Council, allegedly called Amaltari West Sector and Chitwan National Park, issuing threats that led to the suspension of work,” said Adhikari. “Obstructing a project aimed at protecting the people is highly condemnable,” he added. Bhattarai, however, denied any involvement in halting the embankment project, calling the allegations made by ward chair Adhikari misleading.

Chitwan National Park had issued guidelines stating that the embankment work should not disrupt bird and gharial habitats, should be limited to designated areas, and that construction materials should be sourced from outside the buffer zone rather than extracted from the river. 

The park also mandated that all conservation-related activities involving large boulders should be conducted under the supervision of park officials and security personnel between December 7, 2024 and January 29, 2025. According to Chitwan National Park’s Information Officer Abinash Thapa Magar, both parties have now agreed to resume construction in mid-February. “Some individuals have issued threats over the phone, claiming that the work was carried out without following legal procedures, and they will take the matter to the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA),” said Thapa Magar.

“To ensure a smooth process, we have decided to proceed in a way that accommodates all concerns. For now, we will lay large boulders along the Narayani riverside but will not use gravel,” he added.

Following an on-site inspection, Amaltari West Sector conservation officer Madhu Nepali confirmed that political dispute was the main reason for the delay in construction.

In 2000, the Narayani River breached its embankments, washing away the entire village of Dhajah. 

The 102 displaced families were forced to resettle in different areas of Ward Nos. 6 and 7 of Madhyabindu Municipality, where they continue to live under uncertain conditions.