Embankment repairs start today

SAPTAKOSHI DELUGE

BY THIRA L BHUSAL & SHANKAR KHAREL
KOSHI TAPPU (SUNSARI), Aug 28

Indian officials have agreed to start repair and renstruction of the Koshi-devastated spurs along the river in Nepal, 11 days after the embankment was breached wreaking havoc in over four VDCs of Sunsari district. The Indian side is ready to reconstruct the destroyed spurs as there is increasing risk of the Koshi River expanding further east.

Deputy Director General of Department of Irrigation Anil Kumar Pokharel informed that the Indian authorities are prepared to carry out reconstruction work on a war-footing with a view to strengthen two spurs located 13.5 kilometers north of the Koshi barrage. The Indian side has mobilized all means and resources, according to Pokharel. Spurs are important infrastructure that stop river flow and protect embankments. The Koshi submerged thousands of hectares of land because of lack of repair and maintenance of these two spurs. The Koshi had breached its embankment at western Kushaha on August 18.

“Indian authorities have reached a three-point agreement with the Nepali side and have set priorities,” Pokharel said. The authorities have agreed to immediately protect all spurs situated north of the point of breach, that is 12.5 kilometers north of the Koshi barrage. “The Indian side is serious about not allowing the Koshi to spread further and is working as per the agreement,” he said.

The Indian authorities have also selected contractors to transport boulders from Chatara in Sunsari and Letang in Morang district. The Indian side will repair and improve the road stretching from Loukahi to Koshi Tappu so that heavy vehicles can carry boulders for completion of the work without further delay. “Repair work will start on a war footing from tomorrow (Friday),” said Pokharel. As per the agreement, the Indian side will repair and reconstruct two spurs at West Kushaha and Rajabas. Half of the spur situated 13 kilometers north of the barrage has already been damaged.

The river will divert eastward unless this spur is immediately strengthened. There is only 500 meter gap between the spur and the breached embankment. Likewise, the spur at Rajabas in Sunsari is quite vulnerable also. “If this one is not strengthened, the Koshi can divert from this point as well,” Pokharel said. The Indian authorities have selected two separate contractors to repair these spurs, said Shrawan Kumar, Junior Engineer at Pramandal Bathnaha, India, who is working at the breached embankment site. He said it would not be possible to reconstruct the destroyed embankment until the water level subsided significantly, and that they had given priority to protect the remaining parts. “Our objective at the moment is to protect the remaining ones,” he said.

A senior technical team headed by a Chief Engineer from Bihar is currently busy in discussions with Nepali counterparts. About 300 laborers have been working since Wednesday at the site. “The Koshi flow has been diverted toward the east. If this spur is breached, the river will submerge land even up to Inaruwa municipality,” said Amar
Bahadur Thapa, a local who looks after construction work. “We will stay here until October 15, which is generally taken as the flood period. By that time, work to protect the embankment will be completed,” he said. The Indian representative said that currently there was no security problem.

Over 15,000 displaced Indians in Morang, Sunsari

Over 15,000 displaced Indians of Arariya, Supoul, Baguwan, Basanpur, Dumarwana, Dhurna and other parts of Bihar state have come to Sunsari and Morang districts as of Thursday. They said they came to Nepal hoping to get relief after they were not provided even foodstuff for over a week in their country.

CDO of Sunsari, Durga Bhandari said they would offer humanitarian services to the Indians and would return them to Bihar in a few days. Over five million people in Bihar have been reportedly affected by the recent floods.