Bihar flood | Nitish flags non-cooperation from Nepal in meeting with PM Modi

He also raises issue of Farakka barrage through which, he says, water now takes longer time in its exit.

August 10, 2020 04:27 pm | Updated 09:53 pm IST - New Delhi

File Photo: Narendra Modi

File Photo: Narendra Modi

In a virtual meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with six States on Monday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar flagged non-cooperation from neighbouring Nepal in managing flood, which has affected over 74 lakh population in 16 districts of the State. Mr Kumar also raised the issue of Farakka barrage through which, he said, water now took longer time in its exit.

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“North Bihar gets ravaged by floods because of heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Nepal and in accordance with an agreement between India and Nepal, the water resources department of Bihar conducts the flood management work in the bordering areas but in recent times we’ve not been receiving full cooperation from Nepal”, said Mr. Kumar in the meeting. 

Mr Kumar further said, “This year, in Madhepura and in no man’s land in Madhubani district too, we did not get cooperation from Nepal in strengthening work on embankments. The officials from the Bihar government tried to solve the problem by speaking to Nepalese officials but they did not cooperate... the work which was to be completed by mid-May, was completed by the end of June… this needs to be focused”.

On Farakka barrage, he said “now water takes longer time in its exit from the barrage and therefore, Ganga’s water spread to wider areas for longer time… this needs to be discussed”.

Over 14 lakh affected by floods in 11 Bihar districts

Mr. Kumar further said, “The Bihar government is running 29 relief camps, in which 27,000 flood- affected people have taken shelter. Over nine lakh people are getting food from 1,267 community kitchens…I’ve also instructed officials to follow COVID-19 regulations among the flood victims. I’ve made an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas and instructed officials for necessary actions… as many as 23 National and 17 State Disaster Response Force Teams are engaged in flood-affected areas for relief and rescue operations. The State government had been giving ₹6,000 relief money to each flood-affected families and this year too, it has, so far, distributed over ₹378 crore in the bank accounts of 6, 31, 295 flood- affected families. At one level, we all are struggling with COVID-19, while at another, we’re facing the flood problem… in the flood affected areas, special attention is being done on COVID-19 tests.” 

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