Koshi victims pile pressure for compensation

RAJBIRAJ, Sept 23: Flood victims of Saptakoshi River in Saptari district on Sturday once again demanded the Indian Government provide them due compensation for their lands that was affected uring the construction of the Koshi barrage five decade ago.



Organizing press meet in Rajbiraj on Saturday, Koshi Victim Upliftment Society complained of the Indian government´s apathetic behavior in providing the compensation as per Koshi agreement between the two countries. [break]



“It has been over five decades since the construction of the Koshi barrage however the victims in Nepal are yet to receive compensation,” said Kasim Ansari, chairman of the society. “Indian delays in compensation has added insult to the injury of the Koshi victim,” he added.



Recently, the joint meeting of the Udayapur and Saptari district administration offices prepared a list of the lands to be recompansated and submitted to the Indian side after determining the rate of the lands affected by the barrage.



However the Indian side is yet to inform when they will provide the compensation. “It took India 50 years to determine the rate of the land for compensation. How can we rest assured that the distribution will be made in a certain time frame,” Ansari doubted.



Nagendra Jha, the advisor of the society said that the victim cannot remain assured that they would get the compensation given the Indian government´s apathy on the issue. He emphasized on continuing the pressure programs.



As per the Koshi Agreement, Indian government was to provide compensation to 5,400 bighas land affected by the dam construction and subsequent inundation. Later in 2009, the extended meeting of the Koshi Coordination Committee in Patna of India added 2,600 bighas more for the compensation, according to Jha.



Jha further informed that beside the compensation of the lands, the agreement provisioned that the India had to built schools, hospitals, drinking water system and electricity among other facility for the victim of the Koshi barrage.



“As per the agreement, India has to be responsible for controlling the floods in the tributaries of Saptakoshi for 199 years as well as security of the household near the dam”, Jha added. He also blamed the Nepali government for failing to act strictly while demanding compensation.

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