pushpa-columnWhen I was a high school student, an important question we had to tackle was why the Koshi River was a sorrow for Bihar. Decades later, the perception has been totally changed as Koshi River has become a sorrow for Nepal. After construction of embankments near the Koshi River by India, the people from Bharadaha to Tilathi in Saptari district are suffering from floods. When the Indian authorities, who are holding the key of Koshi Barrage, didn't open the doors, the over-flooded water entered to the lower part of the Saptari district from the east. The embankments and roads constructed by the Indians near the no-man's land by violating international norms and by stopping natural flow of other small rivers, have contributed in the inundation of Nepali residential areas claiming lives of above one hundred locals and totally destroying their houses and properties in the area. This is not only the story of the Saptari district but also most of the Tarai districts have also become victims of such embankments from East to West across the Nepal-India borders by stopping the natural flow of big and small rivers from Nepal entering India. Every year, the rainy season has started to become a sorrow for the Tarai people. President Vidya Bhandary, on Saturday, called the leaders of the major political parties, including Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and questioned them why they hesitated to talk to the Indian authorities about the problem faced by Nepal due to construction of such embankments! She advised the leaders to put forward the problem with the Indians in detail without fear. Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang provided 100 million rupees for the flood victims. Following the Chinese style, Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi announced 250 million rupees support for the flood victims. Modi's support is just like crocodile's tear, otherwise, if Modi is really touched with the humanitarian feelings, he should ask his people to demolish the embankments and stop construction of high-rise roads along our borders. Villagers from the flood areas are asking the political leaders to demolish the embankments and high surfaced roads constructed by the Indians by blocking the river flow. The Prime Minister and other ministers who visited the flood affected areas, didn't make any comments on such constructions by the Indians. So far, UML Vice Chairman Bhim Rawal has registered a proposal in the Parliament stating that due to the construction of embankments have created the flood-havoc has been raised. Otherwise, those leaders who have surrendered to India to achieve power are afraid to speak a single word opposing such illegal constructions. Some ministers were found saying that if all the doors of the Koshi Barrage were opened, the lower part from the Koshi Barrage would be inundated, therefore, the doors should not be opened. It seems, our ministers are more worried about the Indian people than the Nepali people's plight. Nepal government's spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communications, Mohan Bahadur Basnet was found saying that due to the construction of the Postal Road, the Tarai land was inundated. It seems, he is unaware about the construction of high embankments and roads constructed by the Indians! There are many painful stories of the flood victims. The dead body of a child was disposed in the Koshi River due to lack of land to bury the body; flood victims lost their food grains but the government relief was seen nowhere. At a time when the government is spending billions of rupees for big leaders' treatment, while the flood victims are unable to receive meals. Leaders are found visiting the flood affected areas by helicopter but people are compelled to send days without food. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is going to Delhi [to present his letter of credence]. Let's see, whether Deuba will brief his counterpart about the plight of the flood victims!