Barrage-hit families to be shifted to safer places

May 20, 2000
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Nepalgunj, May 20: Families in five Village Development Committees in Banke adjacent to the Indian border severely affected by the inundation problem arising from the construction of a barrage along the Rapti River from Jamunha Bazaar to Abdullagunj on the Indian side are to be shifted to safer locations.

A meeting of the natural calamity relief committee, Banke held here recently has taken this decision, CDO Shyam Prasad Adhikari told RSS.

The residents of Gangapur VDC will be shifted to higher ground in the same VDC and to Holiya village, the residents of Holiya VDC to Hirminiya and Jhara region, and residents of Phatepur, Mataihiya and Baihatahani to higher ground in the same VDCs. Work in this connection will start before the rainy season, it is stated.

Plan international and Nepal Red Cross Society will extend cooperation for shifting the flood prone families. The former will install one tap for every ten families and built some 250 houses for those associated with that organisation. The Red Cross will make Tarpaulins and Blankets available to such families.

Cooperation will also be sought from hmg for implementing the committee’s decision.

A meeting is to be held today at Baharaich in India between technical teams from both countries which are working to prepare a report on the effects of the 22-km long aflux barrage constructed by India, leader of Nepalese team and Banke District Irrigation Office chief Rishiram Sharma said.

According to him, reports prepared by both teams will be presented at the meeting.

Meanwhile, a preliminary survey conducted by the District Irrigation Office, Banke reveals that some 9,656 people of 1,723 households belonging to the five VDCs are classified as excessively flood prone and some 5,000 persons of 856 households prone to a lesser level.