There was a record flood in Kosi River in August this year, but due to the promptness of the Water Resources Department, all the embankments are safe.
BI News, Patna: The state government is taking all necessary steps for flood protection in Bihar. Necessary action is being taken to conduct a comprehensive dam safety assessment in the state by technical experts in the light of the provisions of the Dam Safety Act 2021. There is also an idea to carry out rehabilitation work of Kosi Barrage, Veerpur and Gandak Barrage, Valmikinagar under the World Bank-supported ‘Bihar Integrated Water Resources Management Project’.This information was given by Bihar Government’s Water Resources and Information and Public Relations Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha on Thursday in response to the calling attention notice received from Legislative Councilor Ajay Kumar Singh in Bihar Legislative Council.
Sanjay Kumar Jha told that Kosi Barrage, Veerpur was constructed in the year1963, while Gandak Barrage, Valmikinagar was constructed in the year 1968. At present both the barrages are functional and both are very important in terms of flood protection and irrigation facilities.
Sanjay Kumar Jha told that in the light of the recommendations made by Central Water Commission, New Delhi, Central Water and Power Research Institute, Pune and Ganga Flood Control Commission, Patna after inspection of Kosi Barrage and its components on 15 October 2008, The protective work has been done in the year 2009. Similarly, in the financial year 2019-20, work to remove siltation has been done in the upstream of Gandak Barrage, Valmikinagar.
He said that despite the maximum discharge of 4,62,345 cusecs of water in Kosi river at Veerpur Barrage on August 14, 2023 after a period of 34 years during this year’s flood period, the barrage and all the embankments are safe. The result of the prompt work done by the Water Resources Department before the flood season and 24-hour high alert during the monsoon season is that despite the record water loss this year, we have been successful in saving North Bihar from the devastation of the Kosi River flood.
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Talking to journalists on the sidelines of the House, he said that the biggest problem of North Bihar is the flood of rivers coming from Nepal every year. Continuously reducing its impact is the top priority of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. For this, many ambitious schemes have been implemented by the Water Resources Department in recent years. Also, many new and modern techniques of water management have been used successfully.
Steel sheet piling, state-of-the-art early warning system, Mathematical Modeling Centre, Physical Modeling Center etc. are symbols of the department’s new thinking towards flood management in Bihar. Also, in line with the Chief Minister’s concept of linking the rivers within the state, work has been started on many far-reaching schemes, which will not only reduce the impact of floods but will also provide irrigation facilities to large areas.
He said that construction of High Dam in Nepal is necessary for permanent solution to floods in North Bihar. A joint committee of India and Nepal was formed in the year 2004 to prepare its DPR, but the DPR has not been made in the last 19 years. This is an international matter, which can be taken forward only with the cooperation of the Government of India and Nepal. Bihar government is continuously making efforts to make meaningful progress in this direction.
