KANCHANPUR, April 23 -- Forty-six-year-old Mohan Damai, a Haliya (bonded farmer) from Bhimduttanagar-19 in Kanchanpur district is now building his house near the banks of Chaudhar River in Baghphanta. He has a 10-member family and worries about accommodating them in his two-roomed house. But, Mohan's primary concern is sustaining the livelihood of his large family.

"We somehow managed to construct our house by taking loans, but how will we support our families when we don't have any employment or skills to get employed?" Mohan said. He further said that since the lands were allotted near the river banks, there is a possibility of erosion and inundation.

There are 36 freed Haliya families like Mohan's whose houses are being built at Bagh...