Wagmati River Erosion Threatens Taudaha and Settlements

KATHMANDU. Some houses east of Taudaha have been affected by the erosion of the Bagmati River. Taudaha, located in Kirtipur Municipality-6, is one of the major tourist destinations in the Kathmandu Valley. As the Bagmati has been changing its course for the past two years and eroding the soil on its western bank, settlements to the east and south of Taudaha have come under risk.

Local resident of Taudaha, Milan Khad, said, "Settlements east of Taudaha are at risk due to the erosion of the Bagmati River. Water from Taudaha has already started seeping through the banks to the east, and if nothing is done in time, the very existence of Taudaha will be in crisis."

He stated that after Lalitpur Metropolitan City built a wall on the opposite side of the Bagmati, the Bagmati has been eroding only the western bank unilaterally. Additionally, the erosion on the west is also being caused by the seasonal river flowing from the Dudhpokhari area in Kirtipur Municipality-4. Another local, Anjil Khadka, says that due to the tendency of the South Kali Municipality to build protective walls on the south side of the river, while Kirtipur Municipality does not take any initiative, erosion prevention work has not been done.

Demarcation and Boundary Problem

Various bodies allocate budgets for embankments, retaining walls, etc., to protect Taudaha and settlements from the erosion of the Bagmati River. However, local resident Khadka says that such budgets are returned unused due to uncertainty about the exact boundary. "We have repeatedly asked the Bagmati Civilization to demarcate the boundary, but it has not happened to date." He said that contractors are unwilling to start work because the boundary has not been demarcated.