Nepalgunj-Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) District Organisation Committee Banke-Bardia has released a press communique asking the Government of India to dismantle the Lakshmanpur Barrage immediately as it has led to the submergence of more than half a dozen village development committees (VDCs) in that region. In addition, the communique noted that in the Terai districts like Banke and Bardia, the centuries-old tradition of bonded labour has yet to be abolished and pledged support for the farmers of Bardia engaged in the movement to abolish it.