POST REPORT KATHMANDU, July 12 -

The Gandak Barrage built on the Indian side has started inundating large areas of land, causing heavy soil erosion on the Nepali side as the bordering Indian state government did not take immediate preventive measures as per the agreement reached with local stakeholders, said Gandak River Control Struggle Committee on Saturday. 

Organizing a press conference in the capital, Premchandra Gupta, secretary of the committee, informed that a large portion of land in Paklihawa village of Nawalparasi district has been inundated by the swollen river. The river has turned toward Nepali villages. 

Stating that Nepali villages are always at risk as the Indian side was not sincere enough to abide by the agreement, Gupta warned that they would stage series of protests if the preventive measures are not put into effect immediately.

On June 26, the Indian state government had agreed to address 12 of the 21-point demand presented by the locals. The demands include initiating immediate measures to control the flow of the river, building dams at different places to tame the overflow and compensating the local people who were suffering from continuous flooding.

At least 20 thousand people, according to the committee, have been displaced from the affected areas.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, 13 July 2008