KATHMANDU: The construction of an embankment has been proposed to safeguard the Dolalghat area, a popular tourist destination, from the dual threats posed by the Sunkoshi and Indrawati rivers.
The Water Resources and Irrigation Development Division Office of Kavrepalanchok has initiated the process in the current fiscal year to address the recurring flood threats.
The Ministry of Drinking Water, Energy, and Irrigation of Bagmati Province had instructed the office last year to conduct technical measurements and cost estimations for the embankment’s construction.
After completing inspections and estimates, the proposal has now moved forward, said Binay Poudel, head of the office. The embankment aims to protect the Dolalghat market and bridge, critical infrastructures at risk due to rising water levels and floods.
This initiative comes in response to the demands of local residents, who have repeatedly expressed concerns over the flooding of the Dolalghat area. Last year’s floods in the Indrawati River from Melamchi caused significant damage, submerging houses and eroding settlements.
Federal MP and former minister Gokul Prasad Baskota emphasized the need for a proactive approach to disaster preparedness in the area.
“We cannot fully predict the type of disaster that might occur, but we must act according to our immediate needs and capabilities,” he said. He also noted that the proposed ‘Sunkoshi-Third’ hydropower project could play a role in managing the settlements in Dolalghat.
Local residents, such as Hirakazi Shrestha, highlighted the constant fear they face during the rainy season. “We live in fear every year when the river levels rise. We’ve been appealing to all levels of government to protect our market, settlements, and bridges, but progress has been slow,” Shrestha said.
The flood-prone Dolalghat area, situated at the confluence of the Sunkoshi and Indrawati rivers, is also a significant transit point connecting Tatopani, Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Ramechhap, and other districts via the Araniko Highway.
In recent years, floods have submerged dozens of homes and caused extensive damage to the region’s infrastructure.
Notably, the catastrophic flood of June 15, 2021, in the Indrawati River, swept away 551 houses, submerged 5,400 ropanis of cultivable land, and claimed 26 lives in Sindhupalchowk alone.
Major structures, including the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, were also destroyed.
The proposed embankment, backed by a federal grant, represents a critical step toward addressing these recurring disasters and protecting the livelihoods and safety of Dolalghat’s residents.
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