The district Administration Office Banke shifted 2,231 residents of Lohiya village development committee to Jhora jungle after the Rapti River inundated their land and houses.

The local administration permitted them to make temporary settlement in the jungle after the local people staged demonstrations due to the fear of inundation.

The local administration gave the permission to use 50 bighas in Jhora jungle sufficient for making houses and cowsheds to the 2,231 people of 26 families.

Acting Chief District Officer of Banke district Krishna Shyam Budathoki told Nepalnews over phone that they made the temporary provision for three months of the rainy season, but they will allow them to remain there forever because every year they have to shift due to the floods.

The local administration, in coordination with the district forest and district survey office, had agreed to provide land to them following the request from the ruling seven political parties and Maoists.

On distribution of the land and land encroachment, he said the local administration had asked them to occupy the land as per their need. “As we did not have time and there is risk of inundation, we asked them to possess necessary land, but later we will visit there and manage the land for them.”

There is more than 50 bighas of spare land in the area, in which the people are asked to live.

People of this village have been facing the problem of inundation since the last six year following the construction of Laxmanpur barrage and embankment by India.

Locals have alleged that the government did not hear their plight and initiated efforts to destroy the barrage and embankment. The district Natural Calamities and Rescue Committee divided the people into three categories.

Budathoki further said that though there is no high risk to the people of B and C categories but land will be provided to them if they wish to shift to the Jhora jungle area.

“I have asked the Red Cross to provide emergency assistance to them including tents, asked the District Education Office to manage a school there and also asked to set up a police unit in the area,” Budathoki added.

He added that the problem will remain unless and until the problem of inundation is resolved by holding high level talks in the political level.

He informed that he is coordinating with the ruling seven political parties and Maoists in this regard.