Gopalganj, March 9: Their feet are swollen and crocodiles lurk nearby, but dozens of people are standing in a stream of the Gandak river at a village in Gopalganj district for the past three weeks.

The residents of Kalamatihaniya village in Kuchaikot block, around 195km northwest of Patna, are demanding anti-erosion measures to save the area's villages. Hundreds of fellow residents keep vigil on the banks while they stand in the water, hands folded.

The residents are calling their struggle a "Jal Samadhi Satyagraha" and have united under the banner of Gandak Diara Sangharh Samiti, which is demanding the digging of a pilot channel and construction of an anti-erosion wall.

On Thursday, organisation convener Anil Kumar Manjhi embarked on a fast-unto-death to press for the demands. More residents are likely to join the fast after Holi.

"This is a diara (riverine area). The main stream of the Gandak is 5km away. During last year's floods, a branch of the river broke and began flowing this way, eroding villages and settlements that have been around for 200-250 years," Anil said.

The riverine area includes 70 villages with population of around 75,000, and around 10,000 acres of fertile land that grows the best sugarcane in Bihar. "This stream has already eroded and swept away six villages, displacing 2,000 families," Anil said. "The remaining villages may not survive the monsoon if a pilot channel is not dug to turn it back to the main stream. An anti-erosion wall will provide additional protection."

In just a little over two months, the water of the stream will start rising, rendering construction work impossible.

"We will not budge till our demands are met," said Sachin Snehi, a Samiti member. "Construction work should start immediately, or it would be too late."

The state water resources department did sanction anti-erosion projects, including a 20m wide pilot channel for Rs 12 crore, in December 2016. The deadline is May 15; tenders are yet to be finalised.

"We are making all efforts to end the satyagraha and people's woes," said Gopalganj district magistrate Rahul Kumar. "We are hoping that the bids for a 2km anti-erosion wall and a few anti-erosion works near Ahirauli dam are finalised within 24 hours and work also begins."

Rahul added that the pilot channel has gone for re-tendering and would be finalised only after technical specifications set by the water resources department are met.

"Our officials are in touch. The civil surgeon is ensuring regular health check-up of the agitators," Rahul said.