Lahan, Sept 11

An embankment at Balan river has been constructed at Taregana Gobindapur of Lahan municipality in Siraha district relieving more than 1,000 families in the area of flooding risks.

The settlements in the area were at risk of flood from the river every year. The river lies at the border of Siraha and Saptari districts. Likewise, around 10,000 bighas of lands have also been saved from being swept away. Under the river control management programme of the Rashtrapati Chure Tarai Madhes Conservation and Development Committee, the river reclaimed land conservation and utilisation consumers’ committee with assistances from the district soil conservation office constructed the embankment spanning around 2,500 meters. Construction of the embankment has benefited the local people in other ways too.

Price of the lands in the area has increased. “After the embankment construction, now, a kattha of the lands is sold for from Rs 100,000 to Rs 150,000 as compared to Rs 10,000 for the same amount of the land in the past,” said local Shiva Narayan Chaudhary.

Following the embankment, more than 1000 bighas of the lands at the municipality-17 and 18 have been reclaimed, said the river claimed land conservation and utilisation consumers’ committee.