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News: The Sirsiya river is in the news due to severe industrial pollution affecting public health, culture, ecology, and cross-border areas of Nepal and India.
About Sirsiya River
- The Sirsiya river is a transboundary perennial river flowing from southern Nepal to India.
- Origin: The river originates from the Ramban Jhadi forest in Jeetpur Simara Sub-metropolitan City of Bara district in Nepal.
- Course: The river flows through the Bara–Parsa industrial corridor and crosses into India at Raxaul in Bihar.
- Tributaries The two major tributaries of the Sirsiya river are Kiyasut and Vaudyi, which merge near Birgunj.
- Merges into: After crossing into India, it flows southward, merging with the Bangari River before joining the Burhi Gandak River in Bihar, contributing to the broader Ganga River basin.
- Cultural Importance: The riverbank is lined with numerous shrines and temples.
- It is a central site for the Chhath festival for local communities.
- Pollution crisis
- Untreated industrial waste and sewage released by factories have turned the Sirsiya river black and highly toxic.
- During the dry season, nearly 80% of the river’s flow consists of industrial wastewater, which has destroyed aquatic life and caused serious health problems and cultural decline among riverside communities.
