Nepalgunj, June 24: Over 50,000 locals from more than seven villages in Rapti Sonari and Narainapur Rural Municipalities of Banke are at high risk and fear of flooding as the government failed to manage a budget of Rs. 60 million.

A year has passed since the embankment built on the Rapti River at Khalla Jhagdiya in Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality-7 was swept away by a flood. However, the requested budget for its reconstruction has not been received, causing extreme fear of flooding among the residents of the surrounding seven villages.

Chairperson of Narainapur Rural Municipality Ishtiyak Ahmad Sah has said that the embankment, which was swept away by last year’s flood, has not been rebuilt even as the monsoon season begins this year. 

“As a result, it seems almost certain that the 50,000 residents of the seven villages in both municipalities will be affected by flooding,” said Sah.

He said that due to the ongoing rainfall in the hilly districts, the water level in the Rapti River has started to rise, increasing the fear and anxiety among the local residents of the surrounding villages.

According to Chairman Sah, if the embankment is not immediately reconstructed, the Rapti River could enter villages such as Deupura, Piprahawa, Khalla Jhagdia, Geduwa, Gangapur, Sonbarsha Khudarbetwa, and Kaduwa in Rapti Sonari and Narainapur Rural Municipalities, causing 50,000 people to be submerged, thereby increasing the concern.

Locals have appealed to the government to save them, indicating that if the 280-metre-long embankment was not immediately rebuilt, significant loss of life and property could occur in the seven surrounding villages.

Local leader Durga Prasad Pandey complained that despite repeated requests for the reconstruction of the embankment from the district administration, local municipalities, and the People’s Embankment Programme since it was swept away last year, no action has been taken.

He mentioned that if the broken embankment is not rebuilt and the Rapti River enters the settlements, there will be massive damage in the area.

Ward Chairman Ram Laxman Tharu of Ward Number 7 stated that despite written requests from the ward to the relevant authorities for the construction of the embankment, no action has been taken due to a lack of budget.

In response to queries regarding the situation, Sub-Divisional Engineer Rajan Shrestha of the People’s Embankment Programme in Lamahi, said that despite sending repeated requests for a budget to the centre since last December, work could not be carried out due to lack of funds. 

Shrestha said that a budget estimate of Rs. 60 million was prepared and sent for the construction of the 280-metre embankment, but work could not proceed due to the lack of budget. 

However, the office is attempting to prevent the situation with its limited budget, Shrestha added.

Local resident Ram Achal Yadav of Deupura village expressed his discontent, stating that the government had put the lives of more than 50,000 locals at risk to save Rs. 60 million, and urged the government to show compassion towards the people in this area.

Following the pleas from the locals to save them from flooding, a team from the Banke District Security Committee, led by Chief District Officer Khagendra Prasad Rijal, inspected the damaged embankment. 

CDO Rijal said that after visiting the site three times, the local municipalities and the People’s Embankment Office were urged to arrange the budget for the construction of the embankment.

The inspection team included Narainapur Rural Municipality Chairman Ishtiyak Ahmad Sah, Senior Divisional Engineer Rajan Shrestha from the People’s Embankment Programme in Lamahi, Armed Police Force Superintendent Bimal Dangi, Nepali Army Colonel Rabin Shrestha, National Investigation Deputy Director Om Khadka, DSP Narayan Dangi from the District Police Office, Banke, Ward Chairman Ram Laxman Tharu of Ward Number 7 in Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality, and some local residents.