WD News: Talks are on between India and Nepal to remove debris from the banks of the Kali river on the Himalayan nation’s side to facilitate the construction of a protection wall in Uttarakhand’s border town of Dharchula.
Debris accumulated on either side of the Kali, which flows between India and Nepal, following heavy rain in the neighbouring country in September. The rain flooded the Lasku river in Nepal and huge amounts of rubble accumulated on both sides of the Kali.
According to the officials, the Indian authorities cleared the debris on the Dharchula side but Nepal was yet to remove the rubble, thus hampering construction. The Nepalese authorities fear that removing the debris might incline the river’s flow towards Nepal.
“Heavy deposit of debris on the Nepalese side is affecting construction of the protection wall as the river is overflowing inside Indian territory, resulting in a lack of space for construction,” Dharchula Sub-divisional Magistrate Divesh Shasni said.
Nepalese officials feared that if they removed the debris, the Kali’s flow would be towards that country and destroy its riverbank infrastructure, according to Pithoragarh District Magistrate Reena Joshi.
Nepal has already constructed a protection wall along the river to guard against monsoon floods. India needs a similar protection wall to secure Dharchula from the threat of floods, she said.
Source: East Mojo
Image courtesy: Deccan Herald
