Bihar: Deluge Again
Posted : August 27, 2008 at 3:34 pm [IST]
It’s again a sad story of inaction. According to unconfirmed reports, hundreds of people have been washed away. With the 400-m breach now widening to 2.5 km, the situation is just grim and to a great extent unpredictable. Neither the state has the resources or the modern technology of plugging the breach. For instance, barriers made of driving sheet piles and geotextile bags weighing about three tonnes each are dropped using choppers to stop water flow. Interestingly, Kosi has now reverted to the course it followed over 200 years ago.
And instead of camping their cadres in service to the people, Mr. Jestor Lalu and Mr. Clean Nitish are busy in blaming each other. As usual, the politicians are busy in aerial surveys, politicking even with this natural catastrophe, and begging for central aid of a large amount and then allowing that to be pocketed by unscrupulous. Lalu is happy by announcing his benevolence to donate the Rs 1 crore he had won in the game show Kya Aap Panchvin Pass Se Tez Hain to arrange for khichdi for the flood-affected people. Is he still not busy marketing himself?
It’s shame for the civil engineers and administrators of the country that have not been able to find a technically robust solution to tame Kosi. Can they emphatically say that there are no solutions and people will have to live under this situation forever? Why can’t the IITs pull out its best engineering talents to find a solution?
If the report of the N Sanyal Committee on Bihar floods provides the answers, why are the recommendations don’t get implemented? If Hungary can do it effectively, why can’t India?
If high dams in the upper reaches of at least three rivers-Kosi, Kamla and Bagmati, in Nepal are the only way to check floods in Bihar, why couldn’t it be pursued seriously with diplomatic and technical efficiency in last sixty years? And what is the guarantee that it will be taken up any more seriously now?
As I understand there can be many short-term as well as long-term solutions including bunds, barrages, embankments, rivers’ inter-linking and creating least resistance passages for water flow as well as for water storage. But the country and state as usual forget the problem once the flood subsides and the politicians in collusion with administrators get the best out of the relief money coming from the different sources.
However, I am surprised that there is hardly any effort or appeal or visible concern for Bihar’s flood relief activities in national media. Even no NRI association expressed its concern? Is it less serious that earthquake or other calamities? Is it because it relates to poor Bihar that hardly concerns anyone in the country or abroad?
- Indra
Category: Government Policy/Administration |
3 Comments »
From Patnadaily.com
Comments:
Yes, it’s really a matter of national concern, people from across India, across the world should join their hands in saving the humanity. People are facing life and death situation in Bihar’s Kosi and Purnia division.
People from all the sections of Bihar and India particularly should take this issue very seriously; it’s Tsunami like situation where a river has changed its course.
Let’s help our brothers and sisters! - Shailesh Kumar - Aug. 30, 2008
Every year this flood comes, hits thousands of lives and several lakh people become homeless. The government does the same thing every year; big commitments, put crores of rupees in rehabilitation and disaster management but doesn’t pay attention in the direction of any concrete and permanent solution.
After the last year flood devastation, the Govt. of Bihar constituted a high-level expert panel for the solution of flood in Bihar. I saw some meeting outcome in a local newspaper but after that there is no news. What happened to that committee we don’t know.
Every problem has a solution. If the govt. really see this as a problem, it should look for solutions very seriously. But frankly speaking, I doubt the seriousness of the govt. and its
machinery. - Bibhuti Bikramaditya - Aug. 28, 2008
Just like so many fellow Indians, I am hugely saddened by this unprecedented flood in North Bihar. I think this needs tackling at two levels - long term measures, mainly technical (engineering solution) and political (treaty with Nepal). If Dashrath Manjhi could single handedly cut through mountains and build a road himself, all alone, I think taming the mighty river with the engineering skills at our disposal is very much possible. However, the long term steps for permanent solution can be taken only after flood water recedes.
For the immediate problem of the people, I think we all must help government/NGOs who are in the relief work. I would like to know through fellow readers if they are aware of honest NGOs involved in relief work so that all those who are interested can contribute for relief of the affected people. I think collective will and help to the people in whatever manner, monetary, material is going to help our own people in tiding this tragedy. - Balajee Diwakar - Aug. 28, 2008
It is a very pathetic situation for Bihar where Kosi flood has devastated almost whole of North Bihar making 26 lakh people homeless. People have lost lives, homes, cattle and what not. The media is trying its best to update the information and help people contact their near and dear ones. Our great politicians are busy in air survey of Kosi area and see tamasha from top and issue statements from Patna.
I appeal to all countrymen to come forward to help these flood affected people in whatever way they can. It is expected that the NGOs like the Lions Club, Rotary Club, student organisations and all philanthropic organisations come forward and help the needy by mobilising volunteers, boats, shelters, food, water, medicine etc without losing any time.
The government and political institutions should also tighten their belts and prove their worth. May God give us strength to tide over the grave situation. - Braj Mishra - Aug. 27, 2008
The flood in the kosi region is something that is happening every year since quite a few years now. But this year it’s of different; it is a deluge. The river is trying to rewrite the whole map. I have never seen this kind situation happening in Madhepura since last 32 years of my age. I remember being a kid we used to talk that this can happen only when Bhimnagar barrage will break. Politicians never cared since Independence about fixing this problem. There is no political will visible from any Bihar’s political party or the Central government. I think the people from all 14 districts should stop voting from the next coming election till the time some major steps are visible to tackle this kind of calamity. It needs a complete planning, interest and lots of money from the central government. - Kaushik Kumar Singh, Montreal, Canada - Aug. 27, 2008
Posted by: Indra at August 31, 2008 @ 10:33 pm
Dear Indra:
Not sure if I am going to completely agree with you on the content posted however we all have the right to put forward our views.
Lets just do a small comparison although quite insignificant in impact & the reality. Bihar didn’t have this situation in the last several years the way Kosi unleashed it’ disaster this year. lets go a foot back & see the situation. Bihar govt. had a lot of things in platter when it took charge & the whole focus was in the area of developing the infrastructure, improving upon the law & order situation, creating jobs & likewise.
In an attempt of all these things, we definitely seem to have missed something important like this but probably on account of no anticipation of such thing. This had never happened in the last several years in the history. Did you know that Tusanami is going to take such a toll on people across the sounthern India? probably NO!!! but now we are geared to take care of such a situation with technological advances in the field of monitoring & alert system.
we can talk critical of many things in life from outside of the game. Lets see how it feels by being in the game & do things.
Now we are talking this in a state of Bihar where the priorities were different, why don’t we talk of Mumbai, a self reliant, highly advanced financial capital of INIDA where every year even with the slightest of rain a flooded situation appears. (Just because it doesn’t kill people doesn’t mean that it not a real concern in such a kind of city)
Also I think partly the blame goes to Nepal. Just becuase the overflowing water would go to Bihar doesn’t mean that Nepal shouldn’t have taken adequate measures.
I am sure in the days to come we will have these situations in control & things will be better nevertheless it would be foolish not to imagine the plight of people who underwent this kind of thing in their life. It’ a time when all of us donate & do whatever possible to see things get in shape. what Laloo has done was his prerogative. what you have to do is all yours.
regards
Neeraj
Posted by: Neeraj Kumar Singh at October 12, 2008 @ 4:32 am
Well, Kaushik I do agree with you.
regards
Neeraj
Posted by: Neeraj Kumar Singh at October 12, 2008 @ 4:34 am
Leave a Comment