Victims demand compensation as per Koshi Project Agreement

Saptari, July 6: The Koshi River Deluge Struggle Committee on Sunday staged a sit-in by halting the traffic movement in Saptakoshi Barrage for an hour demanding compensation for the losses from Koshi River as per the Agreement on the Koshi Project between Nepal and India, 1954.

Thousands of locals staged a demonstration under the leadership of Nepali Congress leader Ram Kumar Chaudhari and others, said the Struggle Committee.

Lawmaker of Saptari Constituency No.1 Manpur Chaudhari, Ashok Kumar Mandal of Saptari-2, Chairman of Struggle Committee Mahidev Chaudhari and others were also present in the agitation staged in the Koshi Barrage along the East-West Highway.

The victims said that they were not given compensation for the loss as promised by the government of India.

According to the Agreement on the Koshi Project between Nepal and India, the compensation should have been tendered by the government of India to the proprietors or the occupiers of the land for all damages.

Likewise, a ministerial-level agreement was held some three years ago in New Delhi of India to provide compensation to the affected ones after carrying out the assessments from the technical teams of both the countries.

Earlier, the Chairman of Struggle Committee Mahidev Chaudhary had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala through the Chief District Officer of Saptari by urging to meet their demands.