Despite spending Rs 370 million to control floods in various rivers and rivulets in Saptari district this fiscal year alone, people here still face flooding risks.

Floods in the Khado river and other streams on Saturday, the first monsoon mayhem this year, inundated more than 1,500 houses, leaving families without food and shelter.

Flood victims have long been complaining that the authorities have failed to provide a permanent solution to the flood crisis they face annually.

Akhalak Siddiki, chief of Khado River Control Project, said Rs 150 million was spent to control the river this year alone. According to him, about 25-km long embankment has been constructed along the river.

But the embankment is yet to be constructed in Tilathi where the Khado river wreaks havoc every year.

Siddiki said the embankment construction could not be constructed in the Tilathi area due to protests by local people.

Saturday’s floods in the Khado river breached the embankment at the Maleth, Dumari Shivanath and Paunwatole areas.

Similarly, the Water-induced Disaster Control Office in Lahan has also allocated a huge amount of money to control floods and inundation in Saptari.

Ram Prabesh Mandal, chief of the Water-induced Disaster Control Office, told the Post that around Rs 220 million was spent in Saptari this year to control flooding.

“The authorities have spent millions of rupees but the problem remains the same,” said a flood victim, claiming that the embankments were built “carelessly using substandard materials”.