Bihar has an ambitious plan to link its rivers and tame the Kosi river, often referred to as the 'Sorrow of Bihar'. The preliminary proposal report (PPR) sent by the state has been accepted by National Water Development Authority. To begin with, the state is planning to invest Rs 4,441.82 crore on Kosi-Mechi link and works related to it.
The National Water Development Authority has forwarded the proposal to the Central Water Commission. Officials of state water resources department say they expect to receive the final sanction for linking rivers in the next couple of months. “The detailed proposal has been prepared after keeping in view all the environmental concerns,” says Dhirendra Kumar, engineer-in-chief (central).
In the first phase, Bihar will connect eight rivers, the Kosi-Mechi link will be the first project. The Kosi will be connected with the Mahananda through a 120 km-long canal. This link is considered crucial to control floods in the state. Kosi, in the past few decades, has inundated scores of villages in the region. This link will make Bihar’s worst flood prone districts safe, claim officials. Kishanganj, Supaul, Purnia and Araria that were worst hit in the 2008 floods will become safe districts, it is claimed.
The devastation cause by the Kosi in 2008 displaced around three million people and an estimated amount of nearly 1,000 crore was spent on relief and rehabilitation of flood victims. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had sought financial assistance of Rs 14,500 crore from the Central government to rebuild Kosi region after the floods.
