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🇳🇵 Nepal /Energy & Infrastructure

Susta residents resume embankment construction after Indian objections halt project

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Residents of Nepal's Susta village are building makeshift embankments to protect their settlement from rising waters of the Narayani river.
  • Construction of a permanent flood protection project stalled last fiscal year due to objections from the Indian side, leaving villagers vulnerable.
  • Villagers fear displacement if the river breaches the settlement, as temporary barriers are their only defense against annual monsoon flooding.

Residents of Nepal's border village of Susta have resumed building makeshift embankments after rising water levels in the Narayani river threatened to inundate their settlement. Villagers in ward 5 of Susta Rural Municipality in Nawalparasi West are filling sacks with soil and gravel and stacking them along the riverbank as floodwaters encroach on the Tharu settlement.

The construction of a permanent embankment, designed to mitigate annual flood risks, stalled last fiscal year. Residents reported that objections from the Indian side prevented work on the most vulnerable section of the river. With floodwaters continuing to rise, villagers have resorted to temporary barriers in an attempt to protect their homes.

The government allocated funds to build an embankment in Susta, but the work could not be completed where flooding is most severe because the Indian side blocked construction. Now we are filling sacks with soil and gravel and placing them along the riverbank ourselves. If the river breaches the settlement, the entire village could be displaced.

— Rabindra Jaiswalspokesperson for the ‘Save Susta Campaign,’ explaining the villagers' actions and fears

Hundreds of villagers have been working since Wednesday evening to reinforce the riverbank through voluntary labor. Rabindra Jaiswal, spokesperson for the ‘Save Susta Campaign,’ stated, “The government allocated funds to build an embankment in Susta, but the work could not be completed where flooding is most severe because the Indian side blocked construction.” He added, “Now we are filling sacks with soil and gravel and placing them along the riverbank ourselves. If the river breaches the settlement, the entire village could be displaced.”

Susta is surrounded by the Narayani river on three sides and Indian territory on the fourth, making it a flood-prone border settlement that is inundated almost every year during the monsoon. Laila Begam, another leader of the campaign, noted, “We are using wire mesh, rocks and sacks filled with gravel to stop the erosion ourselves. We have no choice but to protect our own village.”

We are using wire mesh, rocks and sacks filled with gravel to stop the erosion ourselves. We have no choice but to protect our own village.

— Laila Begamanother leader of the campaign, describing the temporary measures being taken
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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