Locals of Shivgunj are living under fear as Kankai is rapidly moving westward raising concerns that it may meet Satasi river much ahead of where they meet now and sweep away one of the oldest markets in the district. [break]
The administration, however, is trying to stop the erosion by borrowing bamboos from the locals saying it doesn´t have budget and not much can be done in the present situation.
The chief district officer (CDO) and heads of security agencies in the district who visited the spot three days ago after news of river heading toward human settlements, have directed army men and the local police to construct a barrier of bamboos tying them with nylon ropes.
“There is a danger of the rivers heading toward the market so we have tried to stop it with bamboos. But it won´t do much to avert the danger,” stated sub-inspector at Area Police Office, Shivgunj Rajendra Chudal.
Major part of the ward no six of Shivgunj VDC has been encircled by raging rivers for the past three days. “We have not slept properly since the onset of monsoon. We will have nowhere to run if the two rivers meet and they say they will stop all this with bamboos,” Ganga Katuwal, an elderly, rued.
Six spurs were set to be constructed at three spots of ward No-6 as part of the People´s Embankment Program in the last fiscal year but the spurs were constructed at just two places due to lack of fund and ironically Kankai has started erosion at the third point where the spurs were to be constructed. More than twenty families were displaced from the ward last year as well but the bigger concern is, said Chairman of Shivgunj Chamber of Commerce Bhola Mainali.
Locals demanded excavators be used to train the river toward east but CDO Gehanath Adhikari argued that excavators cannot be used and use of bamboos is the best option for now.
Water level rises in Mahakali river
Water level at Mahakali river reached this year´s high of 200,500 cusec (cubic feet per second) Thursday afternoon following heavy downpour Wednesday night threatening the coastal settlement, reports our correspondent Bikram Giri.
The river has started to erode lands in Bhimdutta Municipality wards numbdrs 11, 12, 13 and 14 forcing locals of Bhujela, Odali and Badaipur villages to move their belongings to safety. There have been no efforts by the government to control erosion in the area until Thursday evening with locals doing their bit using plastic sacks.
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