Residents of Shuklaphanta Municipality Face Flood and Erosion Risks Due to Uncontrolled Rivers

Dhangadhi. Janaki Mahara of Ekant Tole, Shuklaphanta Municipality-12, Kanchanpur, fears the Vanara River the most when it starts raining. When the water level in the Vanara River, located near her house, rises, she is worried about floods entering the village and inundation. When it starts raining due to clouds, Janaki's attention turns to the river. She says that due to continuous rain, the river rises, and water reaches her house, making it difficult to sleep soundly at night. 'We cannot sleep all night on rainy days. We are afraid the river might enter the village,' says Janaki. Ekant Tole of Kalagoudi is not the only one; residents of Tilki, Jai, Amghat, Kunda, Duwaha, and other settlements in Shuklaphanta Municipality-12 face similar problems during the monsoon. The Dodha, Vanara, and Syali rivers are located near these settlements. When the water flow in all three rivers increases, locals worry about floods and inundation. For the residents of Amghat, the Vanara River has become the main problem. Locals say that due to the lack of sufficient embankments on the river, the risk of erosion and inundation increases during the monsoon. 'There is no embankment on our side of the Vanara River. There is an embankment on the Krishnapur side. It would be much easier if there was an embankment on our side too,' said Janaki. Locals say the river erodes land every year. The river has already washed away some of their arable land. Families living near the river worry about protecting both their homes and land during the monsoon. Nanda Joshi of Amghat also says she has been facing the same problem for years. According to her, when the water flow increases, locals become anxious due to the lack of embankments on the river. 'Our problem has been there for years. It would be much easier if embankments were built on the river. The river has already eroded and taken away a lot of land. Our land has now turned into a river,' says Nanda. Although the rain from Ashwin 9 to 11 did not cause major flooding this time, the fear among the residents living near the river remains. 'There is a little problem now, no major flooding. But if it rains more, there could be problems. If there were embankments, we would be relieved,' she said. During the monsoon, locals not only face inundation but also problems with commuting. When the water level in the river rises, the normal paths cannot be used, and people have to take a detour via suspension bridges. Locals say this makes it difficult for students to go to school. Residents of Ekant Tole are at greater risk because they live near the river. On rainy days, students going to school have to use the river and suspension bridge route. According to Chanda Kunwar, when the river water rises, the paths become muddy and difficult to walk on. 'It's hard to walk on rainy days. It's also difficult for students to go to school. When the river rises, we have to go via the suspension bridge,' said Chandra. Along with the Vanara, the settlements in Shuklaphanta-12 also face the risk of the Dodha and Syali rivers. Tilki and Jai settlements are located between three rivers, and locals say there is a higher risk of inundation when the water flow increases. However, the risk of the Vanara River is higher in the Amghat and Duwaha areas. Ratna Air, 57, has been living in Amghat for eight years. She says she has faced many problems due to the river during this period. 'The river water has troubled us a lot. We get scared when it rains,' she says. According to locals, the river's erosion of land has not stopped. In some places, the river has cut its banks and reached near the settlements. They say they worry about where the river might enter when the water flow increases. Locals have repeatedly demanded embankments from the concerned authorities. They complain that although political parties and leaders promise to build embankments during elections, the problem has not been solved. 'We have told all the concerned bodies many times. We also get assurances during elections. But no one has helped solve the problem so far,' said Ratna. For the residents of the riverine areas of Kanchanpur, floods, inundation, and erosion are old monsoon problems. In areas like Dodhara Chandani, Laljhadi, Punarwas, Belauri, and Bhimdutt, locals are affected when the river flow increases during the monsoon.