Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has urged the Centre to take up the issue of Saptakosi with Nepal as the river is responsible for floods in Bihar every year.
Nitish raised this demand during his meeting with Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti here in Patna and appraised the BJP leader on how the river, originating from the Himalayan country, had been responsible for the recurrence of flood year after year.
Nitish, under whose regime one of the worst Kosi flood took place in 2008, suggested that the Centre should persuade Nepal for construction of multipurpose dams in its territory, which, in turn, could help control flood in Bihar. “Such is the topography of the state that due to rivers of Nepal, Bihar has to face flood year after year. If multipurpose dams are constructed in Nepal, it will benefit the Himalayan country too as Nepal will be able to generate hydro energy,” said Nitish.
The Union Minister assured Nitish that India would raise the issue with Nepal so that a permanent solution could be found to the perennial flood problem. However, it may be mentioned here that experts have vehemently opposed the idea of any construction of dams in Nepal as the neighbouring country falls under high seismic zone. “Under such circumstances, any damage caused to the dam during earthquake would lead to incalculable loss of life and property in Bihar,” said V Bhagat, a retired Chief Engineer of Flood Control division.