SAPTARI, July 28: Tension has run high in the no man’s land near Tilathi VDC boarding India after Indian side started constructing dam in the southern part of the district since early Thursday.
With the dam construction underway, nearly half a dozen VDCs are on the verge of inundation. VDCs including Tilathi, Sakarpura, Rampura, Malhaniya were inundated after the swollen Khando rivulet entered into the southern part of the district. The rivulet also damaged the controversial Indian dam constructed near the no man’s land.
Ensuring dam safety
Even though the Indian side started constructing the dam since Saturday, the work had been halted following the objection of the Saptari district administration.
A large number of people including Indian Police, Sashastra Seema Bal and locals have scrambled to site for the construction of the dam since early Thursday.
The tension has flared in the region after the locals on the Nepali side started objecting to the construction. When contacted, Saptari District Police Chief SP Bhim Dhakal told Republica Online that, three days ago, there had been a meeting with the Indian side during which it had agreed not to start any construction in the controversial zone.
When contacted to inquire about the issue, CDO Baladev Gautam was not available for his response.
Since 1971, Indian side has been constructing infrastructures including the dam, blocking the natural course of the Khando rivulet in the no man’s land.
