Bihar floods: Now, govt plays blame game
A blame game after unprecedented floods in Bihar came to fore with state govt being accused by the Centre of not sending a scheme for works to be executed on the damaged dams on the Nepal section of the Kosi river.
By PTI |
PURNIA: A blame game after the unprecedented floods in Bihar came to the fore with the state government being accused by the Centre of not sending a scheme for works to be executed on the damaged dams on the Nepal section of the Kosi river.
Just a day after a state government report of August 17 said all the embankments were safe, the Centre was suddenly informed that erosions were taking place at the Kosi dam in Upper Nepal on Bahothal for the past several days, Union Minister of State for water Resources Jaiprakash Yadav said on board a special train here.
The state government also said some anti-social elements have forced out labourers working to protect the embankment, he said.
"We sanctioned about Rs 80 lakh for the repair of the embankment and I was asked by Lalu Prasad to rush to Bihar to prepare the assessment report," Yadav said.
On his return to New Delhi after an aerial survey of flood-hit areas in Bihar, Yadav met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to inform them of the situation.
The Ministry of Water Resources Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC) Director Co-ordination S S Chaudhary had written to the engineer-in-chief (North) Water Resource Department of Bihar on April 1, asking about flood protection works on the Kosi being done on the recommendations of Kosi High-Level Committee (KHLC), Yadav said.
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"The estimate/scheme framed by the state government as per recommendations of KHLC for the works to be taken up in Nepal portion before the floods of this year was not received in S S Chaudhary's office," he added. "It was also requested that a copy of the estimate/scheme duly approved by competent authority together with relevant drawings for the work to be done on river Kosi in Nepal portion on the recommendation KHLC for the protection works before the flood of 2008," he said.
Two reminders were sent, on April 25 and June 12, from Chaudhary's office in reference to his earlier letter asking for a copy of the scheme approved by the competent authority, Yadav said adding the Centre wanted the information but did not receive it.
On August 15, a report stating that all the embankments in Bihar were safe was received by the Union Ministry for Water Resources.
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There were indications of some rise in swirling waters 543-569 centimetres above the danger mark at Basua at Kursela, Yadav said. Subsequently on August 16, another report on embankment position said the water-level had reached 39 cm and 74 cm above the danger-mark at Basua and Kursela and the river was flowing 21 cm below the danger mark at Malda.
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