AbhasDR ____
Kathmandu, Sept 1
Bihar State government's negligence to the repair and maintenance of Koshi Barrage has caused the barrage to clamp down, causing floods in both Nepal and India. Kushaha, Haripur, Shreepur, Laukahi and Bhokraha VDC of Sunsari district in Nepal and 441 villages of five districts of Bihar, India are under water, causing above 60 thousand Nepalese and above 40 lakhs Indians homeless. Over 20 deaths have been reported and many are still missing.
Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Railway Minister of India, accepted Bihar government's mistake on Aug 27, as not maintaining the barrage as suggested by the technicians. The technician's team had surveyed the Koshi River on Oct 27 and had suggested Bihar government to maintain it by Jun 28. The Central Government of India had demanded of the Koshi barrage, but was uniformed till Aug 17 when Bihar government replied that the Koshi barrage was entirely safe. Local bodies of Nepal too had informed of the weak condition of the barrage to India time to time.
The Koshi retention wall and the spurs had to be repaired by the Indian government, as per the Koshi Treaty, signed on 1954 April 25 by the-then Prime Minister of Nepal, Matrika Prasad Yadav and the-then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Nepal possessed no right on the repairing. The project had to facilitate irrigation of 35 thousand hectares of land, but could only support irrigation of 16 thousand hectares, while India took full advantage of it. The Koshi Pump Channel and distribution system hasn't been constructed as per the treaty. Even 40 per cent of people who gave the land for the project haven't received their payment till date.
The Koshi retention wall had around 2 km of its length collapsed on Aug 18. Out of 56 doors, only 27 were opened because of which the barrage got collapsed. Experts believe that the age of Koshi barrage was about to expire as being 44 years old. Even Prof. Chita M., who had studied about the delta point of Koshi River had claimed the incompleteness of the delta. He quoted, "The barrage existent would work for a short time, but to control the river water, the soil erosion must be controlled and the debris deposition centre must be constructed." Dr. KL Rao and Sir Claud English, Director of PONA Water Research Centre had suggested the same. Another significant reason pointed is the heightening of the river bed.
The Koshi River has now diverted to a new route towards the east. After 200 years the river has changed its course, which was 120 km eastward before. Only 180 thousands cu/sec water flow has caused the change. Last 60 years has seen two great floods in Koshi with 900 thousands cu/sec water flow. These floods came in mid-October. So experts believe if the rain continues there's lot to come till October.
