Kumari Musahar, 40, of ward 3 of Devdaha Municipality in Rupandehi, experiences sleepless nights, grappling with the uncertainty of finding shelter for her family.

Her family is currently seeking refuge at a neighbour’s house after their own home was swept away three years ago by a flood, leaving them with nothing, not even clothes. The flood was caused by the overflow of a new incomplete dam the government has been building nearby.

Musahar expressed her gratitude towards her neighbours for their kindness but acknowledged the need to find another place to stay. Despite assurances from lawmakers and local representatives to rebuild their home in the wake of the devastation caused by the flood, her house still lies in ruins.

“The neighbour graciously offered us shelter in our time of need. However, it’s now time for us to leave. Despite promises from lawmakers and local representatives, who witnessed the devastation wrought by the flood and pledged to rebuild our homes, mine remains in ruins.”

Further compounded by her disability, as she navigates with the support of only one leg, the income generated by her husband's occupation as a tractor driver falls short of meeting their needs.

Meanwhile, Man Bahadur Ruchal, also from the same area, faces a similar plight. The flood caused severe damage to his farmland, leaving only a fraction of it suitable for cultivation.

“The flood buried most of the land, leaving only approximately 1,354 square meters cultivable,” he said. “I am struggling to secure enough food after the flood washed away our fields.”

“I fear whether we can withstand another flood. During the monsoon, the [nearby] tranquil lake transforms into a ferocious force and enters human settlements,” he said.

Ruchal said the construction of a dam initiated by the government under the Rohini Irrigation Project has further exacerbated the situation for the residents of ward 3 of Devdaha and ward 12 of Tilottama municipalities.

The dam, constructed by the federal government under the Rohini Irrigation Project, saw its foundation stone laid on September 9, 2017.

However, this government-led initiative has only worsened the plight of locals. Despite promises of irrigation and tourism development, the incomplete project has led to increased flooding, leaving many families displaced.

Chhabilal Kharel, a resident of ward 12 of Tilottama Municipality, highlights the lack of drainage from the dam as a major contributor to the flooding. He also mentioned that technical mistakes made during construction have made things even worse, rendering vast stretches of arable land unsuitable for cultivation.

Kharel lamented that approximately 406,357.54 square metres of fertile land has become unsuitable for cultivation over the years due to persistent flooding. He said that floods frequently inundate areas like Hattidanda, Basantapur, and Tatera in wards 2 and 3 of Devdaha, as well as ward 12 of Tilottama.

He said the project that was initially projected as a two-year project has now dragged on for over six years, exacerbating the damage suffered by the community.

Damodar Bhusal, a resident of ward 10 of Tilottama and former member of the Lumbini Province Planning Commission, said the project aimed to provide irrigation to 1,500 hectares of agricultural land in Tilottama and Devdaha through the construction of a 3,500-meter-long artificial lake and an 800-meter wide, 50-meter deep dam.

Bhusal said that as per the project proposal, there were plans to construct a canal with a capacity of 93.7 cusecs directed towards Devdaha and another canal with a 34 cusec capacity towards Tilottama. However, he expressed disappointment as the work remains incomplete.

The District Water Resources and Irrigation Development Division Office has spent over Rs395.6 million on the project but it is yet to come into operation. The project was initiated with a budget of Rs 472.4 million by the federal government.

Division Head Damodar Sapkota lamented that the project’s advancement has hit a standstill, attributing the delay to the failure of the relevant ministry to release funds in line with a recently formulated detailed project report. This report was crafted by the office after water started entering settlements, he said.

Originally slated for completion by May 16, 2020, the project remains stalled, despite being close to 90 percent complete, leaving the residents of the flood-affected settlements in dire straits.

A staggering sum of Rs310 million was allocated for the construction of headworks, with an additional Rs90 million disbursed for the subsequent package, according to official records.

Addressing concerns over the canal’s functionality, the official stated that it was constructed as per the project specifications. However, he emphasised the need for minor adjustments to ensure a smooth flow of water.

“People are increasingly vocal about the problem of flooding,” he said.