BANKE, Dec 8: The Indian-constructed barrages in Laxmanpur and Kalkalwa near Nepal-India border have been inundating Nepali territory every year. While Nepal and India have been making diplomatic efforts to construct a permanent dam to control Rapti flooding, two teams comprising senior officials from both the countries reached Banke district and conducted a two-day field visit.
The teams visited the disputed Kalkalawa barrage and highly flood-affected areas of Rapti including Holiya, Fattepur and Gangapur.
Indian embankment causing inundation in Banke
“The Indian side has already agreed to construct a 5-kilometer-long structure to prevent Rapti floods. However, the agreement has yet to be implemented,” said Niranjan Dev Pandey, director general of the Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention (DWIDP). “We will discuss it further in the meeting soon to be held in Kathmandu,” he added.
Pandey had led the Nepali team consisting representatives of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and engineers. Likewise Gorakh Thakur of Gana Flood Control Commission led a team compromising officials from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and their engineers. Both the teams said they are committed to prioritizing dam construction to prevent flooding of Rapti River.
“As some structures constructed by India have led to yearly flooding on the Nepali side, the government has been working with the Indian government to resolve the problem. We will leave no stone unturned to come up with constructive solutions,” claimed Hari Odari, departmental officer at MoFA.
According to him, both the teams will participate in a two-day function to be held in Kathmandu on Wednesday and Thursday
