Panchthar. The land at Majhitar has been barren for the past four years due to the lack of reconstruction of the canal swept away by the floods. The livelihood of the locals has become difficult as they have not been able to produce food and cash crops.

Fish farming except maize has been stopped in the flat land of Majhitar on the bank of Tamor River and Hewa rivulet on the border of Phidim municipality-4 and Hilihang rural municipality-7. The floods that occurred on Asar 13, 2080 BS had damaged two irrigation canals brought from Hewa rivulet at Majhitar. The canals on both Phidim and Hilihang sides have been completely closed after the river deepened due to flooding at the source of the canal. As a result, paddy, vegetables, cash crops and fruits have not been cultivated for the past four years, said Meena Majhi of Phidim-4.

The 60-year-old Meena said that it has become difficult for them to earn a living as they have not been able to do farming. “Earlier, we used to produce our own produce. Now we have to buy food every month,” Meena said, adding, “Now we have to take loans to earn a living.” It’s been four years since I’ve been here. According to him, he is surviving his livelihood from animal husbandry and fishing.

The farms where around 500 muris of paddy are cultivated are barren due to lack of irrigation facility. The floods have eroded around 120 chairs of paddy fields in some places and buried them in others. Bir Bahadur Majhi, a local of Hilihang-7, said that the rest of his farm is barren due to lack of irrigation facility. “Many farms were swept away by floods and the rest of the canal had to be kept barren,” said Bir Bahadur, adding, “We have been facing a lot of hardships.” ”

Locals say that the floods and landslides that have been taking place for the past have stopped yielding such abundant fish. Some fishing families earn their livelihood by running hotels with fish dishes. Many youths here have started working as labourers in the country and abroad.

“There is no farming here. Fish are also not found in abundance. That’s why many youths have left from here,” said Ram Kumar Majhi, a local and a ward member of Hilihang-7. ”

Most of the Majhi community’s houses are on steep land, where they have their own land. The Majhi community had been cultivating the arable flat land on mortgage, adhiya, kut and contract terms. However, the Majhi community is dissatisfied that no agency has shown any interest in reconstructing the irrigation canal that was swept away by the floods four years ago.

“We said it everywhere. We requested everyone to come together and help us,” said 70-year-old Jas Bahadur Majhi, a leader of the Majhi community. We are the most backward people here. When we went to ask for help, our lives were over. Jas Bahadur complained that the Majhi community has been pushed into a state of ‘darkness under the lights’ due to lack of support from the local governments.

Pushpalal (Mid-hills) highway and Tamor corridor road have been moved forward from Majhitar. Ramesh Tamang, a local entrepreneur, said that tourism in Majhitar has also been affected due to lack of crops other than maize. “The farming in this area used to look charming, but now it has become barren,” Tamang said, adding, “This has affected the arrival of domestic tourists.” ”

Member of Hilihang Rural Municipality Executive Birendra Mangrati said that the problem has been faced due to lack of budget to reconstruct the projects affected by the disaster and to support the affected people. “It is unfortunate that the federal and state governments have not allocated budget for the reconstruction of natural disaster-damaged structures. The higher government would have helped in the areas where the local level resources were not available. There are 41 houses belonging to the Majhi and Tamang communities in Majhitar and hotels based on the highway are also being operated from outside.