Biological embankment under construction on Sanbora river to prevent erosion

Kanchanpur: The construction of a biological embankment has been initiated on the Sanbora River in Shuklaphanta Municipality-3, Kanchanpur, to control persistent land erosion caused by the river.

According to Shuklaphanta-3 Ward Chairman Narendra Prasad Chaudhary, the project aims to mitigate erosion during the monsoon season using biological methods, which are more cost-effective and reliable than embankments made with gabion mesh and stones. “The biological embankment has been under construction for the past seven years. This year, a 175-meter-long section is being built with a budget allocation of Rs 186,000 from the ward,” he stated.

Compared to a gabion mesh embankment of the same length, which would cost Rs 3 million more, the biological embankment is a more economical alternative, said Ward Chairman Chaudhary. Asharam Chaudhary, a member of the consumer committee overseeing the project, noted that funds are being used for purchasing, transporting, drilling, and tying bamboo poles, while local residents are contributing their labor.

Five workers have been deployed under the Prime Minister's Employment Program, working for 15 days with a total wage allocation of Rs 50,100, said Technician Tekendra Prasad Bhatta. "To strengthen the embankment, we are filling sandbags between the bamboo poles and planting deep-rooted grass species to enhance durability," he explained.

Ward Secretary Shyam Chaudhary emphasized that daily monitoring is being conducted to ensure the embankment's strength and reliability. The ward has been allocating funds annually for such projects, and over the past seven years, nearly 1,000 meters of biological embankments have been constructed in collaboration with donor agencies.

Locals report that these embankments have effectively prevented land erosion, protecting farmland from being washed away by the river each year.