KATHMANDU, April 3: The locals have demanded action against a construction company for negligence in constructing embankment on a section of the Karnali river here. They have called for taking action against the Highgriva-Siddhi Shahi Prakash JV Samakhusi Kathmandu for not constructing the structure.

The Ranijamara Kulariya Irrigation Project had awarded the contract to the construction company three years back for building embankment on 1,700 metres stretch along the Karnali river. Large area of the Satti Karnali Community Forest has been eroded and reed forest worth millions has been washed away as the contractor company failed to construct the embankment. Not even 600 metres embankment has been constructed so far by the construction company.

"Nearly 300 bighas of forest in that area could have been saved had the embankment been constructed on time. No doubt, the forest is going to be washed away but even the settlement is going to be at risk if the embankment is not completed this year," Satti Karnali community forest users' committee president, Dhan Singh Saud, said.

Saud said the Project has been requested to take action against construction company by black listing it and to complete the construction of the embankment before the start of the monsoon this year.

A local Maniram Dhungana said they would be compelled to start protest movement if their demand was not fulfilled. Tikapur municipality-8 ward chair Dirgha Bahadur Thakulla said the locals were happy initially with the news of construction of embankment in their area.

The area has been affected from flood every year. He added that their initial happiness has now turned into sadness as the embankment has not completed.

Thakulla said 994 households at the municipality's ward number 8 and four households at ward number 9 would be affected due to flooding if the remaining works of the structure was not completed before the monsoon this year. According to him, the bridge over the Karnali river on the Hulaki Road would also likely be damaged due to erosion. RSS

 
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