MYAGDI, Aug 12: Haphazard digging of the roads in the district has posed risk of landslides and soil erosion. Many roads have been dug by using excavators and backhoe loaders without taking environmental and technical aspects into account, said district soil conservation officer Diwakar Poudel. “As a result, they will increase risk of landslides and soil erosion.”

At least 2,100 houses have been at risk of landslides, soil erosion and flooding in the district that witnessed around 18 small and big landslides so far this year along, according to the District Soil Conservation Office. Rampant digging of roads is blamed in part to the natural disasters. The villages at risk of these natural disasters include Patlekhet, Torakhet, Pakhapani, Lamsung, Muna, Mudi, Shikha, Kuinemangale and Begkhola. Approximately 5 million cubic meters soil is swept away on a yearly basis by landslides and soil erosion, said the Soil Conservation Office.

Moreover, the roads become muddy during monsoon obstructing the passage.
“There is risk of landslips, soil erosion and the land caving in with the haphazard use of equipments like excavators. So road constructors should keep its risk in mind,” said Poudel.

He suggested focusing on constructing road guardrail, planting trees and drainage management in constructing roads.
“The roads in the village have been dug rampantly, in some cases the projects are left uncomplicated. This has caused risk of natural disasters,” said Man Singh Sapkota, a villager of Malik Rural Municipality-1.

Flooding submerged Dagnam, Surkemela and Bhurung Tatopani villages this monsoon. The district headquarters, Benibazaar, which lies at the confluence of Kaligandaki and Myagdi rivers are at risk of flooding. Local people along and around the coasts of the rivers have been asked to remain alert, said Chief District Officer Liladhar Adhikari.

Despite this, the government has accorded least priority to the district in adopting preparedness and controlling the disasters, the local people complained, while drawing the attention of the government to this matter. RSS

The road section at Lasti of Nangibang-9 is blocked after landslide fell on the road, said the District Police Office, Parbat.

The police team has reached there but road clearing task has obstructed due to incessant rainfall, said Inspector Jagat Bandhu Pokharel.

The vehicles coming from Myagdi and Mustang are stranded on the road near Milanchok. The vehicles coming from other places are stranded at Khaniyaghat.

KATHMANDU:The Mahabhir- Rima- Tikot, Gharamdi road built under the initiative of the people of Histan VDC of Myagdi district has been a model road in the district. The District Development Committee (DDC) has recommended the rural road built under the initiative and investment of the community for rewarding by declaring an exemplary project, to the National Planning Commission (NPC), Finance Ministry and Ministry for Physical Planning and Works.

The project was adjudged best after on-site monitoring by the DDC of various projects run in the district by a team of technicians of the sector with party representatives.

It was recommended for prize for honoring the contribution of the community in building proper road in technical point of view with financial and physical investment, said DDC’s Plan Monitoring and Administrative Officer Dilliram Banstola.

Rs 28.6 million has been invested of the community by collecting donations and personal loans, to link Dosalle, Aula, Rima, Tikot and Gharamdi village, the main villages of Histan with 459 households.

Of the 42 km, 36 km is built with community investment and 6 km in government investment.

Gharamdi contributed Rs. 12.1 million, Tikot Rs. 9 million, Rima and Aunla Rs. 2.5 m each and Dosalle Rs. 2 m. Locals contributed Rs. 28.6 million and DDC Rs. 550,000 and three years’ grant of VDC Rs. 2.4 million was used for the construction, said the Road Construction Main Committee Chairman Chandra Bahadur Pun. Those in the towns and in foreign countries were also asked for donations.

We have more than Rs 10 m as loans now and plan to pay in ten years by selling agro-products, he said. RSS