The construction of embankments in the Kankai river has brought cheers to the locals of Baniyani in Jhapa district.
They are elated as they hope that they would now be free from the vagary of the Kankai River with the construction of the embankments. Every year during the monsoon, the flooded Kankai would cause widespread damage in the settlements, washing away agricultural land and flooding the settlements leading to their displacement.
Sikin Paswan of Shiva Satakshi -4 said that the construction of the embankments has raised hopes among the locals.
"Many people here have become landless squatters due to the erosion by the Kankai. There is this fear with the arrival of the rainy season," he said.
Another local Biren Rajbanshi expressed his confidence that now the problem of river inundation and erosion would be addressed. "We have been spending the monsoon each year with difficulty. Hopes have been raised among the locals with the start of the embankment construction," he said.
Man Bahadur Thapa of Lalpani, Shiva Satakshi municipality-7 shared that he lost all his land and house to the floods caused by the Kankai. He stressed that the embankment should be strong enough and reliable. Thapa also suggested constructing the embankments on both banks of the river, saying scores of families have been displaced due to the river cutting and floods.
Works on the construction of the embankments are taking place along the river bank on the stretch east of Chandradangi and Bhelamuni in Shiva Satakshi municipality, according to site engineer Durga Prasad Sharma. The embankments are being constructed at a cost of Rs 50 million.
"Embankments are being constructed by identifying the most vulnerable locations and affected places," he said.
