Gravel filling is currently underway near the guide bund of the four-lane concrete bridge built on the Mahakali River. The river has become very deep in the area that was destroyed by the flood two years ago. A large boulder dam will be built by filling the same deep part with gravel.

‘A boulder dam is being built to prevent the river from eroding it again,’ said Rajesh Yadav, head of the Mahakali Bridge Project, ‘We are currently filling the deep part with gravel, and then the dam will be built by placing boulders on top of the gravel.’ According to him, the riverbed has also been changed for the construction of the dam.

The riverbed has been changed by channelizing about 400 meters. A budget of Rs 4.6 million has been allocated for this. Similarly, a budget of Rs 8.5 million has been allocated for the construction of a boulder dam and a spur north of the guide bund.

The river is about 10 meters deep in the area where the guide bund was cut. Chief Yadav said that the boulders will be placed only after filling the deep pit. According to him, a 100-meter-long dam will be constructed using boulder stones.

‘We have set a target to complete the work within Asar 15, but the water level in the river has increased and it has become difficult to carry out regular work,’ Yadav said. ‘Even though the flow has been changed by channelization, some water is flowing in the same area, which is hindering the work.’ Currently, the bridge project is working using its own equipment.

Last year, the Nepali Army was also working on repairing the collapsed guide bund in Jestha/Asar. The area was declared a flood-prone area and the work was done through the army. This time too, work is being done at the beginning of the rainy season, ignoring it throughout the year.

The new design of the guide bond constructed under the Mahakali Bridge Project has been approved and the work on the project has been stalled so far, according to the bridge project. The issue of changing the design of the guide bond was raised after it was destroyed by floods two years ago.

The four-lane concrete bridge built on the Mahakali River is 800 meters long. The Mahakali River is about 2 kilometers wide in that area. A bridge and a pond 6/600 meters wide and 2800 meters long have been built in the middle part. The project has been stalled so far due to the design of the guide bond on the river bank of the pond.

According to the initial design, boulder stones were to be used in the guide bond. However, when the construction company did not get boulder stones, the design was changed and it was made of plumb concrete. But the design was not accepted by the department. The construction company worked without even a variation based on verbal agreement. After the Mahakali flood destroyed the guide bond, the issue of changing the design arose again.