President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said she will take the initiative to provide compensation to the Koshi flood victims.

Speaking at a programme organised at Barahachhetra in Sunsari on Wednesday, the President said she will draw the government’s attention regarding the concerns of the flood victims.

“Many people are victimised by the Koshi erosion. I have directly felt the plight of the victims,” President Bhandari said after inspecting the Koshi river eroding the lands at Barahachhetra and other areas in the district.

People living near Koshi are facing floods and erosions for the last five decades.

Nine years ago, a high-level committee, formed in coordination of former administrator Ram Prasad Khatiwada, had found that the Koshi river had eroded 160,000 hectares of land at Prakashpur, Mahendranagar and Barahachhetra in the district.

In another programme in Chataradham, President Bhandari said that the local level elections were crucial to institutionalise the achievements gained from the people’s movement.

She said the elections were necessary to strengthen federalism and develop Nepal as a prosperous country.

In Udayapur, President Bhandari said the river civilization of Triyuga should be preserved to end poverty and develop the country. Addressing an assembly after inspecting the areas along the Triyuga river, the President said the river should be controlled by building embankments.