The World Bank on Friday approved a $220-million credit for Bihar to support its rebuilding efforts in areas affected by the 2008 Kosi floods.
The “Bihar Kosi Flood Recovery Project'' will finance flood recovery efforts through reconstruction of about one lakh houses, 90 bridges and 290 km of rural roads.
Future risks
The project also aims to reduce future risks by strengthening the flood management capacity, restoring livelihoods and improving the emergency response capability of the State by providing contingency funding.
The floods affected about 3.3 million people in five districts. About one million people were evacuated and 4,60,000 people provided temporary shelter in 360 relief camps. More than 500 people lost their lives.
Overall, the vulnerability of the population greatly increased, in particular of those living below the poverty line and the landless.
National calamity
“The Kosi floods were the worst in the last 50 years and declared a national calamity by the Central government. The State government has been undertaking extensive reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, which will also help us mainstream disaster risk management in the development strategy of the State. We welcome World Bank support for this work,” Bihar Chief Secretary Anup Mukerji said.
The project will have five key components — owner driven housing reconstruction, reconstruction of roads and bridges, strengthening of the flood management capacity, livelihood restoration and improvements to the emergency response capacity.
