Villagers of Sarki Tol in Bedkot Municipality-4, Kanchanpur, are donating their labour to construct an embankment along the Chudhar river.

The fund for the project was provided by the municipal office, Hariyo Forest and Baitada Community Forest.

Sarki Tol is at high risk of flood and erosion due to Chudhar river. The problem first started 10 years ago when the river altered its course and directed towards the settlement. The villagers ascribe this to unchecked extraction of sand and stones from the river.

Over the years, Chudhar river has wiped out the land of at least 12 families.

To stop further damage, the villagers have come together to construct the embankment. They are installing gabion boxes along the river to protect their lands and homes these days. 

Sundar Ram Bhul, a local man, hopes the river would stop flooding their land once the embankment is constructed.

Jayamati Bhul, a local woman, said her family had already lost nearly one bigha of land to floods and erosions.

“This embankment we are building should stop further floodings and erosions. I have been coming here to help in the project for the last two days,” she said.

The Sarki Tol residents started the project from mid-May, and they have succeeded in constructing around 100 metres long embankment.

Ganesh Bhul, chairman of the Embankment Construction Committee, said the villagers were donating labour in turn.

“We are currently working on the last 50 metres section of the embankment,” he said.

More than three dozen families resided in Sarki Tol. A majority of them are from the Dalit community.