From Vaidyanath Dham to Sanfebagar area, every year, millions of dollars are lost due to flooding and erosion, while 10 families of Pulbazar are suffering every year.
48-year-old Mithu Badi of Sanfebagar Municipality-4 Pulbazar has been spending most of the night during the rainy season in slumber. Budhiganga flows by the side of the market. It has been a long time since this Budhiganga started flooding Pulbazar along with his house.
In this Pulbazar, which is the old market of Sanfebagar, 10 other families including three from the Badi community have been suffering every year. Budhi Ganga flows every rain. The house next door has to be flooded . There is nowhere to end up. Stay outside all night on rainy days . "One can never sleep for three months of rain," she said, adding, "Last year, the whole market was flooded." Even then, we begged everyone to end the stay. Now nobody cares .'
Ramesh Badi says that the Badi community has no place to go even though it is possible to move during the rainy season as it is the last land for other communities. "We don't even have a house to move from where we are living now." There is no land either. Every year there is a flood in the house," he said, "even now, the Badi community has to work all day to clear the mud. If it rains on it, you have to run away. There is no rain that does not run away with a cloth bag . Even now, we can stay at home on the day it rains and the day the Budhi Ganga overflows.' According to him,
becomes an agenda in every election for the management of Pulbazar locals. All the political parties assure the management of the people of Pulbazar affected by Budhiganga . But no one comes back after winning the election . A paved road has been built in the middle of Pulbazar. A flooded road is not necessary for us. People's representatives, leaders, other stakeholders do not want to hear our pain,' says the local.
Makar Bahadur Rai from Jhapa, who came to Achham about four decades ago, has now become a permanent resident of Sanfebagar. He is also getting hit by the rising Budhi Ganga every year . After working all his life, he has built some small houses. Rai, who is living with his wife, is worried as his house starts getting flooded every year. "Last year too, by submerging the house, there was a flood in Pulbazar". There is nothing left of food and clothes in the house. Even now, nothing could be done if the end could be moved. The fear of what will happen at what time is bothering us," he said, "We are near the office of Sanfebagar municipality. But our pain has not touched anyone till now.'
Since the Budhi Ganga has started cutting, not only the people of Pulbazar but also Sanfebagar municipality is at risk. Ram Bahadur Kuwan of Sanfebagar Municipality-4 said that Sanfebagar area from Baidyanath Dham has to suffer crores of damages due to flooding and erosion every year. I have 5 plots of 12 ropani land in Lalpurja. But, all that has been cut by Budhiganga. Many farms here have been cut down. Every year, our farm is getting mixed with Budhiganga," he said, "Dham among the four dhams of Nepal is shrinking every year in terms of area. If we don't think in the long term, the risk of not being able to save is increasing.'
According to him, in order to stop the erosion being done by the Budhi Ganga, every year since the federalization of the country, a budget of 5 to 60 million has been coming in the name of building an embankment in the Sanfebagar area. He said that the small piece plan will come on the basis of accessibility and when the Budhi Ganga will be embanked, it will be swept away. Those who are in reach have brought plans every year. The budget comes for the embankment, when the big water comes, it will be washed away . So far, crores of rupees have flowed into Budhiganga," he said. He said that it should be taken forward as a project to stop the erosion and flooding of Snafebagar. "Those who reach bring the plan". But bringing a plan like this is not a long-term solution . "Sanfebagar area can be saved only if we can think of a way to advance it as a project and strengthen it by doing RCC, rather than bringing a piecemeal plan," he said.
Various studies have shown that the Sanfebagar area is at risk due to the Budhiganga river and because of this the Sanfebagar municipality is at risk, said Rajendra Kuwan, the city head. He said that about 15,000 people of Sanfebagar area are still at high risk. "The market area of Saffebagar is completely at risk". We are also making many kinds of plans to see how it can be managed. But the budget coming from the government's agency does not seem to be properly utilized," he said, It seems that people are doing embankment work by bringing a plan in their own way. There is no cooperation and coordination with the municipality.'
He said that it is not possible for the local level alone to save the Snafebugger and for that, the state and federal governments should advance the work as a project. "In 2081/82, a budget of 3 crores was received from the government of Sudurpaschim Province and the work of putting up the Gabin was also done. In the current year as well, 20 million budget was allocated . Just went through the tender process . But the work could not be done,' he says. He emphasized that all three levels of government should coordinate to save Sanfebagar.
