Seti River erosion puts 8 villages at risk

KATHMANDU: AUGUST 10 – Eight villages in the Doti district are at a high risk of being swept away by the Seti River. Although walls with gabion wire are built along the river, the erosion has not stopped.

The human settlements of Barpata, Ghopghat, Kalaghad, Sirkholi Sain, Dipayal, Gholtada and Naridhang are at high risk of being washed away by the river.

Due to the risk of erosion, the villagers of the risky areas are forced to keep vigil throughout the night to avoid possible danger, claimed locals.

Water-induced Disaster Control Office, Dipayal, spend a huge budget every year to manage levee with gabion wire to control the river, but in vain, said Dil Bahadur Bhandari of Pipalla from Silgadhi Municipality-4. “Millions of budget is spent every year, but the structures are swept away by the flood every time, cutting the land. It is worrying to all villagers here.

“Every year, the Seti River changes its course during monsoon floods, alarming the settlements nearby.

When the Seti river is raging the locals cannot but worry about their wellbeing, informed Laxman Saud, a local from Sirkholi of Silgadhi-1. Similarly, the locals from Banleg from Shikhar Municipality-10 and 11 are also anxious during the monsoon and they have to remain alert all night.

Ram Bahadur Karki from Kalgadh of Shikhar Municipality-2 complained as the concerned bodies failed to control the river erosion, the settlements of Dipayal, Banidugrisain, Sirkholisain, Kalagadh, Rampur, Gerupani, Gholtada Nadirang were facing the continued threat.

“The land near the river is eroded every time the river changes its course. But there are no concrete steps taken to address this serious issue,” he shared.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen rural roads have been obstructed in the district due to torrential rain.

General Secretary of Nepal Red Cross Society in Sudurpaschim Province, Dev Bahadur Bohara, informed that as many as 22 places in the district were ascertained as the most vulnerable area; and a search and rescue materials centre was established accordingly.

Similarly, 12 persons have been trained for the search and rescue in the disaster, he added. However, there is no record of how much land in the district is in a vulnerable state.