A bio-embankment built by villagers in Pawera Bishanpur in Kailali district three years ago has been protecting the village from floods and land erosion.

The bio-embankment built by planting Kan and Besharam (aquatic flora) along the Mohana river has become the only defence against the river spilling over its banks during rainy season, flooding the village and farmland.

The village has not suffered from flooding problem for the past two years, said Shivanarayan Chaudhary, one of the villagers.

Earlier, Shivanarayan said, the village was highly vulnerable to flood and river erosion. A massive flood had swallowed the entire farmland in the village  seven years ago.

With the bio-embankment protecting their homes and farms, the villagers have been producing sugarcane, paddy and wheat without any problem.

Shrawan Chaudhary, another villager, said they decided to build the bio-embankment on their own because the authorities concerned did not heed to their repeated requests to protect their homes and crops from monsoon flooding.

Taking lesson from Pawera Bishanpur, other villages in the region have also started to build bio-embankments  these days.