Rajbiraj, July 29

Koshi River encroachment and inundation victims from Saptari, Udayapur and Sunsari held a demonstration in Saptari district headquarters Rajbiraj today seeking full implementation of the Koshi Agreement signed between Nepal and India decades ago.

The demonstration was staged under the banner of  Koshi River Encroachment and Inundation Victims Struggle Committee  Saptari-Sunsari-Udayapur.

The victims’ demands include job opportunities, schools and hospitals for them as per the past agreement, besides the demand that will make it mandatory for the Koshi Project to seek permission of the Government of Nepal before launching any activities or project in Nepali territory.

Similarly, the victims have also cited failure of the Indian government to make good on its commitment to compensate victims annually. They have made public an agitation programme to create pressure for implementation of the provision.

A memorandum, including the demands and the agitation programme, was submitted to Chief District Officer Surendra Poudel to be sent to the prime minister.

As per the agitation programme, the victims will hold corner meetings, sit-ins and hunger strikes in Rajbiraj and the Koshi Barrage on July 17.

“If the government doesn’t take any concrete initiative to raise and resolve the issue with the Indian government, we will be compelled to turn to more stringent forms of protest,” said Mahidev Prasad Chaudhary, coordinator of the committee.