Landslide damages cultivable land

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

DHADING: A massive landslide from the Sapangre jungle in Mulpani VDC in northern part of Dhading had buried the cultivable land of Thulebesi today.

Due to flood and landslide, the maize cultivation which was ready for harvest have been buried under the landslide and the paddy saplings that were planted last week had also been damaged.

Likewise, around two dozen houses built near the field are vulnerable to landslide, sources said. Since, people cannot shift themselves to other places due to poverty and other reasons, they have been residing in the same place despite being vulnerable.

The incessant rainfall on last Saturday and Sunday had brought flood and landslide in Thulebesi. Bhabaraj Panday, a farmer asked, “How are we going to sustain ourselves after the landslide damaged the maize crop and paddy?”

According to locals, there was no river in the Sapangre jungle, but recently authorities took away some land to construct a road and that might have weakened the land. A small water canal was also prepared near the road, which caused flood after the water volume increased in the canal due to incessant rainfall. The buried land belonged to the locals of Salyantar VDC and Mulpani VDC.

Gopal Shrestha, former president of Salyantar VDC, said that though they did not have an accurate data on the loss caused by landslide, almost half of the land in Thulebesi has been buried.

“It was not possible to remove the stones and debris without using bulldozer,” said Shankar Shrestha who lost four ropanis of land in landslide, adding, “We are in dilemma on where to ask for support.”