भारत ले नेपालको सीमा मा ज्यजती गरिरहेको छ
भारत ले नेपालको सीमा लक्स्मन्पुर बयारेक पानीको दाँयाम बनएको हुदा हरेक बर्ष, बर्षयम को बेला पानी को दाँयाम बन्ध गरिदिदा नेपाल पतती सारा नेपाली गौउ हरु दुब्छ, नेपालीको धन्जन खतम हुन्छ, खेती बली सखप हुन्छ र नेपाली हरु को मृत्यु भाईरहेको छ।
IS NEPAL INTENDING TO LEGITIMIZE CONTENTIOUS LAXMANPUR BARRAGE?
- Dr. AB Thapa
Few years ago India had completed the construction of the Laxmanpur barrage across the West Rapti river near the Indo-Nepal border. Ever since a vast area of lands inside Nepalese territory are being flooded almost throughout the monsoon season every year when the West Rapti river discharge is high. There was a widespread condemnation against the construction of the Laxmanpur barrage. Politicians, social workers, various NGOs never failed to express their solidarity with the people of the Banke district who are the victim of India’s decision to build the Laxmanpur barrage. Press and TV reporters were regularly covering the news how thousands of Banke district farmers each year are forced to abandon their homes to find shelter in the distant forest lands when village after village are in the grip of the West Rapti flooding consequent upon the Laxmanpur barrage.
Nepal Going to Legitimize Laxmanpur Barrage
All major political parties represented in present constituent assemble had denounced the Indian government’s action to build the Laxmanpur barrage as a direct violation of the international law. Parliamentarians and representatives of the NGOs had been demanding that the Laxmanpur barrage should be demolished. Despite all these Laxmanpur barrage related controversies, Nepal government is now going ahead to legitimize the construction of the Laxmanpur barrage by being a party to fulfillment of the Indian Government’s ultimate objective of maximizing the irrigation coverage area inside India by adding into the Laxmanpur reservoir the regulated flow of the West Seti river. After the completion of the West Seti storage dam project, the regulated flow of the West Seti drawn into the Saryu canal from the Girjapur barrage would be fed into the Laxmanpur barrage reservoir.
Will our government have a moral right to denounce the construction of the Laxmanpur barrage, which has led to widespread submergence of Nepalese territory, if it itself is a party directly supporting that project? How about the plight of the Banke district people once the huge Saryu canal drawing 360 cumecs water from the Girjapur barrage, which is about 50% more than the dry season flow of the Kosi, would be fed into the Laxmanpur barrage reservoir?
Construction of the West Seti project is going to preclude the chance to find satisfactory settlement over Laxmanpur barrage dispute with India. People of Banke district affected by Laxmanpur barrage would be consigned to lead a miserable life for ever.
Google Sattlite Pictures
The direct link between the West Seti project and the Laxmanpur barrage is not a closely-guarded secret. Anyone can log on Google Internet satellite picture to see himself that the broad Saryu canal starting from the Girjapur barrage, which has been build to tap the Karnali as well as regulated West Seti flow, empties into the Laxmanpur barrage reservoir.
The decision to implement the West Seti project should be postponed until our government reaches an agreement with India to resolve the Laxmanpur barrage submergence problems. West Seti storage dam project is vital for boosting India’s agriculture production. There is a great demand in India for the regulated flow of the West Seti. Thus the West Seti project gives our country enormous leverage in future negotiations with India to settle the submergence problems consequent upon the Laxmanpur barrage reservoir. We would be betraying our country if we decide in haste to implement the West Seti project
What a Great Surprise!
It is a great surprise that on this very important matter of life and death of thousands of Banke district peasants our NGOs, press and other media are now completely silent. The silence of media could be wrongly interpreted to imply that our NGOs, press and other media are not truly concerned for the plight of the Banke farmers. Their sympathy for the sufferings of the Banke farmers was nothing more than crocodile tears. They are more interested to please the multinational company eager to make fortune implementing the West Seti project.
Genuine Right of Banke Farmers
It might not be long that the farmers of the Banke district would be knowing the true nexus between the West Seti dam project and the Laxmanpur barrage. They would find out that the interest of foreigners takes priority over their right to own and live peacefully in their ancestral homes. It is hoped that the NGOs, press and other media will not ignore the sensitivity of the Laxmanpur barrage problems. People of the Banke district should be assured that the entire country supports their just cause
West Seti Dam Failure
At present our country is heading for the implementation of the West Seti storage dam project. This project will have a concrete faced gravel fill type dam which could be the highest dam of this type in the whole world. The dam will impound a vast storage reservoir. It will be about 1,500 million cubic meters in volume. Needless to say that the failure of the West Seti dam would result to a colossal loss of life and property. It still remains unanswered who would be held responsible for failure of the mammoth West Seti dam, which is proposed to be built by a private developer perhaps even without being thoroughly examined by a competent panel of experts on behalf of the government. Let us not forget that slight negligence resulted to failure of the Malpasset dam near Frejus in Southern France. Similarly Italy was hit by 261 meters high Vaijont dam disaster. Our own Kulekhani high dam was on the verge of collapse through oversight of geological problems.
Nepal Would Forfeit Water Right
Nepal would forfeit forever its right to benefit in perpetuity from the regulated flow of the West Seti if agreements are not signed in advance between the governments of India and Nepal on the benefit sharing issue. Our full right to ownership of waters stored in storage reservoirs to be built in our country is guaranteed by widely accepted international practices. Moreover, India too is willing to buy water from our country. It would be quite unfortunate if our decision makers under the pressure of some multinationals turn a blind eye to it.
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