40 % construction work of embankment completes in Rapti river

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj,  Apr. 17: Around 40 per cent of the construction works of two embankments in Banke along Rapti River in Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality have been completed.  

The construction work began with the aim of protecting the villages and settlements of the Rural Municipality from the erosion of the river. About 40 per cent of the work has been accomplished since the commencement of the work in December 2022. 

Hemraj Bhandari, the engineer of Janatako Tatbandh Office (People's Embankment Office), said that with the help of a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank, the Office has been constructing 1,300 metres embankment in Rapti Sonari ward-2 and 1,200 metres embankment in ward-6 in Banke. 

Bhandari said the office has been working on the project on the two embankment sites. A contract has been awarded to Kalika Construction to complete the project in 900 days from December 2022. 

According to Engineer Bhandari, around 450 households in ward-2 will be saved from erosion, 380 bighas of land will be protected and 150 households in ward-6 and 250 bighas of land will be protected after the completion of the project. 

Bhandari said 2,500 metres of the embankment is being constructed in both places. Rs. 600 million additional budget has been allocated to construct the embankment up to Binauna Bridge. 

He said that 42,525 cubic metres of stone is required to construct the embankment there and Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality has facilitated the extraction of the required stone from the Muguva River.

Member of Lumbini Province Assembly and former minister Krishna KC said that they have repeatedly urged the project office to work so that the people can get relief from the erosion of the Rapti River.

He said that after the construction of the embankment, a ray of hope has spread among the people.

Due to the erosion of the Rapti River, hundreds of acres of agricultural land in Banke are washed away. The Janatako Tatabandha Karyakram Office is constructing a 2,500-metre embankment with the help of a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank with an investment of Rs. 284 million excluding VAT.