Banking News – Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Bikram Khanal has urged the government to take immediate and effective measures to protect Susta in Nawalparasi, warning that severe erosion along the Narayani River has placed the area at risk of losing its existence.

Speaking during the emergency session of the House of Representatives on Monday, Khanal said residents of Susta, who have been protecting Nepal’s sovereignty and border for decades, are now facing the threat of displacement due to continuous river erosion.

He warned that Susta could be completely transformed into a riverbed if timely and effective measures are not taken.

Khanal said he has been coordinating with the federal government, provincial government and local authorities to help secure the necessary budget for Susta’s protection. However, he said the conservation efforts currently underway are insufficient.

He called for immediate short-term measures, including round-the-clock work along at least 400 meters of the vulnerable area, while urging the government to begin construction of approximately three kilometers of embankments under a multi-year budget.

Khanal stressed that Nepal’s efforts alone would not be sufficient to address the problem and called for effective diplomatic dialogue with India.

According to him, even if Nepal constructs an embankment covering around four kilometers in the downstream area, continued river erosion from the upstream section on the Indian side could further increase the risk to the entire Susta region.

“The Susta border dispute has existed for decades, but the biggest challenge now is river erosion,” Khanal said. “The government must take diplomatic initiatives to stop erosion from the Indian side and create an environment for the construction of necessary embankments.”

Khanal urged the government to treat the protection of Susta as a matter of national priority and take immediate and effective measures to safeguard the area.