The villagers say a dam constructed on the Indian side of the Nepal-India border will inundate six southern villages of Saptari district by preventing natural flow of Khado Khola - a seasonal stream - in this year´s monsoon season. Khado Khola, which swells in rainy season, flows southward to Indian villages through the no man´s land.[break]
"We are living in fear of flood months before monsoon," says Dev Narayan Yadav, a former member of Saptari District Development Office. The dam is likely to cause inundation Tilathi, Belhi, Rampura Malhaniya, Sakarpura, Launiya and Koiladi VDCs of Saptari.
Construction of the embankment was completed under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme of India one month ago. The height of the dam, which extends a four-kilometers from the western bank of Saptakoshi to Tilathi VDC of Saptari district, is three to four meters. "The dam may also damage our crops," said Yadav.
Even during last year´s monsoon, thousands of houses and a vast area of fertile land in Saptari were inundated as Indian authorities blocked Khado Khola by building a dam over it. Last year´s dam was not well-built, though.
The locals have demolished many temporary dams on Khado Khola in the past. However, this time around, the dam is well constructed and guarded by Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) of India, which also adds to the anxiety of the locals.
The locals say the Nepali administration is indifferent to their perennial plight even while Indian authorities leave no stone unturned to protect their people from flood and inundation. "We have informed the local authorities about our problem several times," said Dineshwar Mishra, former chairman of Tilathi VDC. "But, the local administration doesn´t heed our complaints."
However, Chief District Officer of Saptari Hari Raj Panta said they had drawn the attention of the Indian authorities to the dam over Khado Khola. "In our bilateral meetings, we have repeatedly raised this issue," said Panta. "I hope this issue will be sorted out very soon."
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