Locals demand management of Khutiya river

Dhangadhi: Locals have demanded embankment of Wada No. 15 Tarbariya and Surmi of Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan Municipality, which are at high risk due to the erosion of Sivaganga and Khutiya rivers.

According to the locals, the river has started cutting in different areas from Dobhan of Sivaganga and Khutiya to Bailey Bridge. Stating that there is a high risk of erosion and drowning, the locals have drawn attention for embankment through the ward office.

A team of locals led by Narendra Saund, coordinator of the struggle committee, handed over a memorandum to ward no. 15 chairman Phulram Chaudhary and demanded to take initiative for embankment along the river bank in Tarbariya and Surmi areas which are at high risk of erosion and flooding.

Locals of Tarbariya and Surmi could not sleep all night on the rainy day, said local Kamal Dhant. "We spent the night in the riverbanks. We are worried about when the river will enter the village," he said. In the memorandum given by the locals who reached the ward office with the signatures of about 65 people, it has been mentioned that riverine substances will not be allowed to be taken from Sivaganga and Khutiya rivers until the embankment is ensured to save Tarbariya and Surmi settlements.

Narendra Saund, coordinator of the struggle committee, said that they had to take up the struggle as the sub-metropolitan government did not allocate funds for embankment in the area even though it collected more than Rs 2 crore annually from Khutiya. "If the embankment is not guaranteed to save our toll settlements, we are preparing not to allow the removal of riverine products from this year," he said. Chairman of Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan Ward No.

15, Phul Ram Chaudhary, has committed to recommend to the higher body as the budget of his ward is not enough to embank the area, said a local Tech Saund.