The residents of the Santhal settlement in Sukhabathan, Jhapa rural municipality-2, are facing a constant threat of displacement due to the shifting course of the Mai River.
The river’s water level now sits higher than the settlement, causing immense anxiety during the monsoon season. With no permanent address, residents fear the worst when heavy rains arrive.
“The Mai River’s erosion has forced us to relocate three times in the past,” says a concerned resident, 65. “We’ve lived here for generations, but now erosion has pushed us right to the riverbank. Even a dark cloud in the north creates panic in our settlement.”
Himal Kumar Chamlagain, Ward President, emphasizes the need for an 1,800-meter embankment stretching from Sukhabathan to Tappu to safeguard the settlement. “Despite efforts by the rural municipality, government programs, and the Home Ministry, our pleas for an embankment haven’t been addressed,” he laments.
The situation is dire. Last week, rising river waters displaced three houses and submerged the entire settlement. Thankfully, security agencies intervened to prevent further damage.
Ranjan Tuto, Chairman of the Sukhabathan Community Disaster Management Committee, warns that a repeat of last week’s flood, or even a slightly larger one, could force the relocation of 275 people from 51 families.
Ward President Chamlagain reiterates the critical need for the embankment. While embankments exist above and below the settlement, the lack of one in the middle leaves it dangerously exposed. He blames budgetary constraints for the municipality’s inability to build the embankment.
The Santhal settlement is on the brink, and urgent action is needed to prevent another displacement and secure their future.
