Indian SSB Obstructs Susta Embankment Construction, Foreign Ministry Involved

Butwal. The obstruction of the embankment construction work in Susta, West Nawalparasi by the Indian Armed Border Force (SSB) has now reached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Anand Kafle, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs, stated that the information received from the District Administration Office, West Nawalparasi has been sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressing confidence that the problem will be resolved through diplomatic initiatives.

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Talking to Ratopati, Kafle said, 'Work under the old contract is ongoing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can take necessary diplomatic initiatives regarding the construction of the new embankment rather than the Ministry of Home Affairs. Our role is to provide necessary facilitation through the District Administration Office.'

The Irrigation and Water Resource Management Project Office, Bharatpur, under the federal government, had signed separate contract agreements for the construction of 1,132 meters of embankment to prevent erosion by the Narayani River in Susta Rural Municipality-5, Nawalparasi. A contract worth approximately 80 million rupees for the construction of 1 kilometer of embankment is being worked on with the target of completion within this June. Although a contract has been signed for the construction of the remaining 132 meters of embankment, physical construction work has not yet started.

During a regular joint patrol between Nepal and Indian security forces on Sunday, the Indian SSB claimed that the proposed 132-meter embankment falls within the border area and sent a message through the armed police to the District Administration Office that construction work should proceed only after obtaining high-level consent.

Deepakraj Nepal, Chief District Officer of the District Administration Office, West Nawalparasi, informed that a letter was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday regarding the Indian side's request. He also stated that an appeal was made to the Indian DM via telephone for a speedy resolution of the problem.

According to him, the work of the old contract currently in operation is still ongoing. 'The work of the old contract, which is to be completed by June, has not been stopped. For the work of the new contract, we are waiting for the necessary consent and instructions from the higher authorities,' he said.

The construction of 1 kilometer of embankment, which started in February, is currently about 80 percent complete. The work is targeted to be completed by June. However, the construction of the embankment in the additional 132-meter area has become uncertain.

Teknarayan Upadhyay, Chairman of Susta Rural Municipality, stated that the Indian side has obstructed the situation where the residents of Susta would have received relief from the erosion of the Narayani River if both the ongoing and new embankment constructions were completed.

He mentioned that the Nepali settlement is about five hundred meters away from the embankment construction area, and if the embankment is not constructed, the risk of flooding and erosion will increase during the monsoon season.

According to Upadhyay, the area where the construction is to take place is Nepali land. 'In 2022 BS, the land was cleared from the forest by the order of the then King Mahendra for ex-servicemen families to settle in Susta. Within a year of settling, they also received land ownership certificates,' he said, 'The embankment to be constructed falls on Nepali land.'

He stated that since the local government does not have the authority to directly communicate with the Indian side or hold formal meetings on border-related issues, they have urged the District Administration Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs to take necessary initiatives.

Residents of Susta have been directly suffering losses from the floods and erosion of the Narayani River for years due to the settlement and arable land of Nepali citizens.

Local residents claim that the embankment being constructed and to be constructed is on the land of the Susta residents and have expressed dissatisfaction with the obstruction by the Indian SSB. They allege that the Indian police harass them from time to time under various pretexts.