Team visits inundation prone areas in Khurdalotan dam

Bhairahawa, May 31 (RSS): A joint survey team formed to study the problems arising out of Rasiyawal Khurdalotan dam constructed unilaterally by India near Marchawar in southern part of Rupendehi district has started on-the-spot survey of the dam and the areas affected by it.

The survey has been started to assist the high level joint technical committee, formed to seek a solution to the inundation problem arising out of the dam constructed by India along Nepal-India border, in finding ground realities about the inundation problem.

The Indian team is led by Siddharthanagar irrigation division Chief D. S. Talari and the Nepalese team by Rupendehi district irrigation office chief Dr. Ramesh Man Tuladhar.

The team made on-the-spot survey of Rasiyawal Khurdalotan dam, Indian settlements affected by the dam that fall within one km distance and Marchawar area.

The team can also undertake study of rivers flowing through Marchawar like Danda, Danav, Ghaghara that flows through Marchawar areas and bridges and culverts built over the rivers, Lumbini, birthplace of Lord buddha, roads leading to Marchawar areas via Bhairahawa and other rural roads, engineer Dev Narayan Jha, a member of the joint team said.

Earlier, the high level technical team visited the areas that witnessed inundation problems because of the dam on the basis of the findings of the survey separately prepared by the officials of both of the countries.

The high level technical team failed to reach any conclusion after a dispute ensued on the issue of the identification of the dam.

The survey team was deployed this year to prepare a report in time in a view to seeking a solution to the problem before the start of the monsoon following the second meeting of high level technical committee but it is not yet known as to when the survey will be completed.

This year, Rupendehi district irrigation office has installed a rainfall measurement equipment and a stream gauge at Marchawar lift irrigation project to inform the local people about the inundation problem in advance.

According to the Rupendehi district irrigation office, over one dozen VDCs including Rohinihawa, Ghumuwa, Piparhawa and Karauta witnessed inundation problem and about 300 houses were affected because of the swollen Danav and Danda rivers, the water of which was blocked by the dam last year.

Similarly, paddy field sprawling over 200 hectares of land in these areas were damaged due to water logging last year.

15 more bodies of terrorists found at Khara

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 31: Security forces have found the dead bodies of 15 more terrorists killed in their defensive action on Monday night when the terrorists attacked a security base camp at Khara of Rukum district.

The forces have so far found the dead bodies of 182 terrorists killed in the incident while about 85 bodies have reportedly been carried away to the adjoining districts.

The Defence Ministry said that the forces have recovered 10 magazines each of SLR rifle and LMG and 100 7.62 mm bullets.

The Ministry said the forces killed six terrorists in the latest encounters in different parts of the country. They killed two terrorists each in Chhiwang and Murul of Rukum and one in Nyaulpur of Bardiya on Thursday and one in Burtibang area of Baglung district Wednesday.

The forces recovered weapons, socket bombs, explosives and terrorist documents from these sites.

The Ministry said two soldiers attained martyrdom when they were caught in the ambush laid down by the terrorists in Bouniya area of Kailali district. Two injured soldiers are undergoing treatment at Birendra Army Hospital. The forces are searching for the terrorists involved in the incident.

The government has expressed condolences over the death of soldiers in line of duty and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls.

The Ministry said security personnel airlifted a woman to Nepalgunj for treatment who was injured in a crossfire between the forces and the terrorists.

The forces also recovered a large quantity of food items and logistic material from Sara area of Pyuthan district.