Drought in Tarai-Madhes blamed on overuse and mismanagement of resources.

KATHMANDU, JULY 26 – The Rastriya Mukti Party Nepal (RMP-N), led by Rajendra Mahato, has raised strong concerns over the ongoing drought in the Tarai-Madhes region, saying it’s not just a natural disaster but a result of long-term neglect, environmental exploitation, and flawed development policies.

In a statement, the party blamed the worsening situation on years of government indifference, unregulated use of natural resources like water, forests, and land, and the impact of Western-style development models that overlook local realities.

"The Madhes is not just experiencing a drought—it's facing the threat of famine and despair," the statement read. "Rainfall has dropped sharply, groundwater is not recharging, irrigation infrastructure is crumbling, and the Chure hills are being exploited unchecked. This has made life extremely difficult."

The statement added that people are struggling to survive due to a lack of drinking water and food. "Every household is in crisis. Wells are drying up. There’s no water for children or grass for cattle. Women, farmers, and the elderly are left helpless, looking to the sky for rain."

RMP-N leader Anil Mahaseth accused the government of negligence and said treating the Terai-Madhes merely as a vote bank has worsened the region’s vulnerability. He said political disregard and structural inequalities have deepened the crisis.

Mahaseth emphasized that true development should protect the environment and support local livelihoods. He stressed the importance of preserving the Chure hills, using natural resources responsibly, and shifting to a farming system based on local knowledge and climate adaptability.

The party has called for immediate emergency relief for the drought-hit region, including food, drinking water, medicine, cattle fodder, and agricultural support. It also urged the government to waive drought-related loans for farmers and provide seeds, equipment, and food free of cost.

Additionally, RMP-N demanded uninterrupted electricity supply in affected areas, free drinking water, and free electricity for irrigation. It said that water pumps, solar motors, and other agricultural tools should be made tax-free with approval from local governments.

The party urged authorities to treat the crisis as a humanitarian emergency rather than a political issue and to act beyond party interests. It called for urgent policy reforms to address the root causes of drought, including stronger legal action to protect the Chure region.

Other suggestions included building small reservoirs, reviving ponds and rainwater harvesting systems, distributing climate-resilient seeds and fertilisers, and strengthening community agricultural cooperatives to ensure long-term sustainability.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First National Bamboo Conference Happening Now

KHOTANG, February 28 – The First National Bamboo Conference is currently being held in Diktel Bazaar, running from February 27 to March 1. The event was officially opened at the Khotang Multi-Purpose Covered Hall, and an exhibition showcasing various bamboo products is taking place nearby at the Matikore playground. The event is organized mainly by Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality. Even the welcome gate and stage at the venue are built using bamboo. The exhibition features 51 stalls displaying items made from bamboo, along with local agricultural products. Mayor Tirtha Raj Bhattarai shared that traditional Nepali bamboo swings—lingle ping and rote ping—have been set up for entertainment. Over 300 guests from outside the district are attending the conference. During the event, bamboo experts will present 23 papers under the theme: “Where there is bamboo, there is life; where there is life, there is bamboo.” Other co-organizers include the Forest Research and Training Centre (Bab...
Read more

Gold prices keep going up

  Kathmandu, June 18 — Gold prices have been rising in the international market since June 10, and this has also pushed up prices in Nepal. When the market opened today, the price of gold had gone up by Rs 900 per tola (11.66 grams) compared to Tuesday, while silver rose by Rs 65 per tola. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, gold is now being traded at Rs 195,500 per tola, and silver at Rs 2,225 per tola. International reports show that gold is currently priced at 3,393 US dollars per ounce in the global market.
Read more

Dengue cases are spreading rapidly in Chitwan.

Narayangadh (Chitwan), July 20 In the fiscal year 2024/25, a total of 3,889 people were confirmed to have dengue in Chitwan district. According to the Public Health Office, 3,020 of these cases were local residents—1,548 men and 1,472 women. The remaining 869 cases involved people from other districts—412 men and 457 women. Bharatpur Metropolitan City recorded the highest number of cases with 1,171 infections, while Madi Municipality had the fewest, with just 37 cases. One person died from the disease during the year. A total of 17,353 dengue tests were conducted throughout the year. Ram KC, a Vector Control Inspector at the Public Health Office, mentioned that the previous year had 1,831 confirmed cases out of 23,840 tests. Dengue was first detected in Nepal in 2004, in a Japanese tourist visiting Chitwan. The Public Health Office emphasized that the best way to prevent dengue is by protecting yourself from mosquito bites.
Read more