Seti eroding banks: Poses threat to highway, over 50 houses

POKHARA, JUN 28 -

The Seti river is fast eroding its banks, putting the Pokhara-Baglung highway at risk.

Breaching its banks, the river has advanced 60 meters towards the eastern side of the highway at Yamdi area in Hemja, Kaski. The river has eroded up to 60 meters of its 300-metre banks.

Nine households at Yamdi had been displaced by floods in the river on June 18, while six other households are preparing to shift to a safer place after the river started advancing towards the settlement on Tuesday.

Local people said the highway would be swept away and over 50 houses in the vicinity and local Bal Kalyan Primary School would be at risk if immediate measures were not taken to control the river.

The victims said the water level rose up to 12 meters due to the deposition of silt and sand following the May-5 flood. They said the river has also changed its course and eroded the protected area.

Local people said that although the authorities concerned including the local administration and road division office were informed of the situation, no initiatives except a site inspection have been taken to contain the river.

They have demanded immediate rehabilitation of the displaced, construction of embankments, dissemination of information about the situation and long-term measures to control the river.

Min Bahadur Thapa, secretary of Seti-Gandaki Flood Victims Concerned Committee, Hemaja, said 10-20 meter high embankments should be constructed at Lamachaur to control the river.

“The road division office and regional road office have been asked to take relevant measures,” said Chief District Officer Chetnath Bhattarai, also chairman of the committee.

Umesh Bindu Shrestha, chief of the division road office, said that they would start work in the river by diverting its course at Lamachaur-road section.

The flood victims are awaiting rehabilitation. “The river swept away our concrete house and farmland. We are now worried about our survival,” said Parbati Sunar, whose family has been living in a hut in her neighbour’s farmland.

Meanwhile, Kaski Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) has urged the authorities to control the river and remain alert about possible further threats. Issuing a statement on Wednesday, Sanjiv Bahadur Koirala, CCI general secretary, said that some parts of Kaski and Dhaulagiri zones might face shortage of essential commodities if the highway got blocked.

 

 


Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/06/28/national/seti-eroding-banks--poses-threat-to-highway-over-50-houses/356268/