Complaining serious lack of management and renovation of the infrastructures in the area, locals claim the dilapidated infrastructures that are on the verge of collapse, pose risk to life. A round house which is popularly known as 'Gol Ghar', along the western dam of Koshi Barrage, has remained shabby and in dilapidated state since a decade. Locals say that timely repair and maintenance of the round house could restore it back to its original state. However, they are left largely disappointed as stakeholders have not diverted their attention towards its restoration.
"Lots of tourists were attracted to the Gol Ghar, in its prime. But now as it's on the verge of collapse, it rarely attracts any tourists," Man Mohan Sharma, a local said. "Though it is the verge of collapse and poses serious risk to lives, concerned stakeholders have not yet diverted their attention to its restoration," added Sharma.
According to him, children play around the round house while rearing cattle. Local farmers also visit the place to take rest with some rare tourists visiting it. Sharma opined that the round house should be demolished if there is insufficient budget to renovate it.
Likewise, failure of concerned stakeholders in managing the nearby crematorium has left the barrage area polluted and dirty. "As a fixed area has not been allocated for cremating, haphazard crematorium spots on the banks of the river, has left the river bank polluted," asserted Pawan Kumar Mandal, former VDC secretary of Bhardaha VDC.
Locals feel that the prospect of tourism has been badly hampered due to the failure of concerned authorities in managing the crematorium area. As per the Hindu tradition, final rites being performed in riverside has great religious value. And hence, a large number of dead bodies are taken there for cremation.
"People cremate dead bodies everywhere as a definite place for cremation has not been allocated. This has increased dirt and pollution everywhere," said a local Birendra Majhi.
Along with the Gol Ghar, a two-road stretch connecting it to the East West Higway, has also been in a dilapidated condition for years. "The road lies in the western dam of Koshi Barrage, which is also in dilapidated condition. Though the road is very critical for the barrage, nobody has given it proper attention." said Shambhu Jha, a local politician.
Locals have been doing banana farming in about 1,000 Bighas of land nearby the western dam. If the dam breaks, the farmers are bound to be displaced. "The risk around the Koshi Barrage has been gradually increasing due to its weakened infrastructure. Though the Indian government spends millions of rupees in the Koshi Barrage every year, their attention has not reached there. It is important that they pay timely attention to the problems," Jha added. Locals assert that tourism activities in the area would flourish if the concerned authorities restore the dilapidated structures, repair roads, and manage the crematorium properly.
Nepal and India had signed agreement for Koshi Barrage project in 1954 and the project had commenced in 1962. The agreement was signed by the then Minister for Irrigation Maha Bir Shamsher and India's Irrigation Minister Guljari Lal Nanda in the presence of the then head of the state King Mahendra and the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru.
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