Despite the efforts made on the ground, people continue to suffer from perennial flooding in north Bihar (the Mithilanchal region).
Here is a look into the evolution of the crisis, and the approach to be adopted.
What is the long-felt problem of floods in Bihar?
Historically, Bihar has been known to be India’s most flood-prone State.
Around 73% of the total land area in Bihar is flood affected.
76% of the population in North Bihar faces the recurring threat of floods.
A large part of North Bihar, adjoining Nepal, is drained by a number of rivers having their catchments in the steep and geologically nascent Himalayas.[Kosi, Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Bagmati, Kamla Balan, Mahananda and Adhwara Group of rivers]
Originating in Nepal, the high discharge and sediment load in these rivers wreak havoc in the plains of Nepal’s Tarai and Bihar.
The plains of North Bihar have recorded the highest number of floods in the last 30-years.
The total area affected by floods has also increased over the years.
The Floods of 2004 affected a vast area causing the loss of about 800 lives.
The chronic issue of floods is making over 5 crore people of the North Bihar and Tarai in Nepal so vulnerable.
How has the past water cooperation changed?
The history of cooperation between India and Nepal for embankments started in the 1950s.
Work on the Kosi embankments started in 1955.
A group of retired Nepali soldiers came over voluntarily to join hands with Indian volunteers and start the work.
However, in recent years, Kathmandu shows indifference to matters of floods and water management.
Consequently, not much has happened, except the use of water resources for hydroelectric generation.
What are the flaws in the water management approach?
In 1930s, there was a transition from the traditional method of flood control to the embankment-based British system.
Infrastructural interventions such as building embankments and re-routing streams have disturbed the conventional pattern of slow water flow.
Earlier, without so many artificial barriers, the flow of water used to aid farming in the region.
The Kosi Treaty of 1954, under which the embankments in Nepal were established and maintained, was not futuristic.
It lacked sensitization of climatic imbalances and sustainable development.
It did not make enough provisions for the maintenance of embankments and the rivers changing their course.
The deposition of stones, sand, silt and sediment has led to river beds rising, changing course and causing unimaginable losses.
Between the mid-18th and mid-20th centuries, the Kosi is said to have shifted over 100 kilometres westward, resulting in large-scale human displacements.
Ironically, the same flood-affected regions also face the issue of drought and a sinking water table.
What are the notable measures by Bihar?
As Bihar’s CM (2005-2010), Nitish Kumar made the concept of ‘disaster management popular among the masses and made a few structural changes.
There was a renewed approach in infrastructure augmentation for dams and reservoirs, detention basins, embankments and channel improvement.
Non-structural measures like floodplain management, flood forecasting and warning, flood insurance and financial compensation werelater implemented.
What should be done?
Greater attention is to be given to the annual calamity of floods.
Revisiting the old plans and arrangements between India and Nepal and establishing a long-term strategy of water management cooperation is essential.
A dedicated intergovernmental panel should be formed through a bilateral mechanism.
