Lockdown not barrier for locals to construct river corridor in Itahari

Kathmandu - Birat Anupam The government announced nationwide lockdown on March 24. Lockdown forced people from all walks of lives to stay indoors. But, for locals of Shanti Shirjana Tole of Itahari Ward Number 4, lockdown was not a hurdle to make a headway for Tyangya corridor construction starting southward from Musarharniya dam.

Dambaar Baraili, the chairperson of Shanti Shirjana Tole Committee, and Jiwan Shrestha, the advisor to the committee, asked permission for local government and Nepali police. Their permission was Okayed. And, they constructed 44-meter-long corridor along the bank of Tyangra rivulet.

The corridor included 19-foot-wide walking pavement, resting platform, solar lights, railings, and concrete wall to prevent rivulet. It was accomplished on April 18 after a weeklong continued construction works, said Baraili. ''The total budget of this entire package stood around Rs. 783,000 only'', informed smiling Dambar Baraili. He added, ''This has surprised many locals and state assembly member and also the first mayor of Itahari Sarbadhwaj Sanba.

'' The budget was supported by lower house member from Sunsari constituency number 2 Sitaram Mehata and ward number 4 office of Itahari sub-metropolis. State govt also threw its weight behind local endeavor After successful completion of 44-meter-long Tyangra corridor construction, locals knocked at the doors of State-1 government. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development of State-1 has preceded further 200-meter-long corridor construction after tendering the project to the selected contractor.

''We have allocated around Rs. 2.5 million for this construction'', informed Chudaraj Dhakal, the Divisional Engineer at the ministry, ''we are happy to allocate budget for the project pioneered by local itself.'' Dhakal said it was necessary project for flood management as well as walking and recreation of city dwellers of Itahari. The construction work is scheduled to come to its conclusion on July 9, informed Dhakal speaking over phone to RSS.

Jiwan Shrestha Said their mission is to link the corridor to the East west highway of Itahari. ''To reach that milestone we have 158-meter-long stretch'', said Shrestrha, adding, ''108 meter stretch is free of any permanent structures where as 50 meter stretch has permanent structures.'' Local government makes a DPR for mega project The ward number 4 committee of Itahari sub-metropolis has come up with a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Tyangra corridor.

yangra rivulet flows through 2500-meter-long stretch of ward number 4 and the ward committee has made a plan to create recreational and touristic activities along the banks of Tyangra rivulet. ''We have DPR with all activities of water recreation on the rivulet and other associated activities on the river banks without disturbing environment'', said Chandra Bhattarair. He added, ''We are frequenting at the doors of state-1 government as this project of around Rs.260 million is not possible to generate only in the ward.''