Indian SSB Halts Embankment Construction in Susta, West Nawalparasi

Butwal. Amidst discussions of Prime Minister Balen Shah's statement that Nepal may also be encroaching on the Indian border, the Indian Armed Border Force (SSB) has obstructed the construction of an embankment in Susta, West Nawalparasi.

While the Irrigation and Water Resources Management Project Office, Bharatpur, is undertaking embankment construction to protect Susta's land from the erosion of the Narayani River, the Indian SSB has instructed not to build physical structures in the border area.

According to Poshanraj Bhandari, Assistant Chief District Officer and Information Officer of the District Administration Office, West Nawalparasi, the issue was raised during a joint patrol of the Nepal Armed Police Force and the Indian SSB on Sunday. The Indian side verbally requested to immediately halt the construction of physical structures as there is a border pillar and it is an area claimed by both countries, he told Ratopati.

According to Bhandari, upon receiving this information, the District Administration Office has corresponded with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Currently, embankment construction is underway for approximately 1 kilometer in the area falling under Susta Rural Municipality-5. While construction work will continue in this section, the Indian side has requested that work in the adjacent 132-meter section to the east proceed only after obtaining high-level consent.

The construction of the 1-kilometer embankment, which began in February, is about 80 percent complete. Similarly, a contract has also been signed for the construction of an additional 132 meters.

Assistant Chief District Officer Bhandari clarified that the Indian side has requested not to construct physical structures in the 132-meter section for now, although work will continue in the 1-kilometer area. Local residents of Susta are directly suffering damage from the floods and erosion of the Narayani River, as there are settlements and arable land belonging to Nepali citizens in Susta.

The Irrigation and Water Resources Management Project Office, Bharatpur, had been advancing the embankment construction work through two separate contracts worth approximately 80 million rupees and 60 million rupees. It has been informed that separate contract agreements were made for the 1-kilometer and 132-meter sections, and budget allocations have also been made.

Local residents have expressed dissatisfaction with the obstruction by the Indian SSB, claiming that the embankment being built and planned is on the land of the Susta residents. Yogendra Gautam, coordinator of the Susta Bachau Yuva Abhiyan (Save Susta Youth Campaign), stated that Susta is a very sensitive issue and that due to the lack of a clear state policy and effective initiative, local residents have to face various problems and hardships from time to time.

He told Ratopati that it is difficult to ascertain whether the Indian police's request to stop the embankment construction in Susta, following the Prime Minister's statement in parliament, was a coincidence or due to technical reasons.

Gautam emphasized that the government and relevant bodies should take necessary initiatives and create a conducive environment to resume the halted embankment construction work in Susta. According to him, it is necessary to prioritize the embankment construction work as the land and settlements of the local residents are at risk from the erosion of the Narayani River, he told Ratopati.