Settlement of Koshi flood victims begins

INARWA, Sept 14:
The task of permanently resettling the Koshi flood victims, who were taking shelter at Inarwa, the district headquarters of Sunsari has started. Chief district officer Durga Bhandari informed that around 600 victims living at the Sunsari Multiple Campus and Sarswoti High School at Babiya had been resettled at the eastern regional jail at Jhumka. Bhandari said around 4,000 flood victims would be shifted from the said temporary camps by Monday. He said that a temporary shelter was being constructed in the premises of the customs office at Lakauhi. Addressing a press conference, he informed that eight schools in Inarwa would be vacated by Sunday. Following the havoc caused by the Koshi floods the studies of 23,000 students have been affected as the victims have been staying at 26 schools.

Meanwhile, the Sunsari district administration and the various political parties have been squabbling over the issue of resettling the Koshi flood victims taking temporary shelter in Inarwa and the adjoining camps. The dispute arose after the representatives of political parties proposed that all the flood victims should be resettled permanently at the Charkose Jhadi (forest) based in Tarara. They also have been voicing that the Sunsari district administration should initiate steps to resettle the victims at Jhumka, Sigiya, Laukahi, of the district. The district administration has said that the dispute surfaced after the political parteis — Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Aanandi Devi), Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party, Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Janamorcha Nepal and CPN (UML) proposed that the displaced victims be settled in the Charkoshe Jhadi.
The political parties proposed that as there was a slim possibility of resettling the refugees in their native habitat immediately, it would be sensible to resettle them permanently in the said location, NSP leader Raghunath Mandal said. As it would be difficult to distribute relief packages to the refugees if they were scattered in different places, it would be easier to provide relief to them if they were kept at a single location, central member of NSP (Anandi Devi) Sitaram Mehata said. The second meeting of the district administration with the political parties had decided to resettle the displaced at the jail being constructed in the eastern region and the customs office at Lakauhi, Chief district officer Durga Bhandari said.

Meanwhile, students have been resorting to strike following the government’s indifference to their plights. Although four weeks have elapsed since those displaced by the Saptakoshi floods were kept in the schools, the district administration has not come up with any concrete plan for their resettlement and rehabilitation. As regular classes were disrupted in the aftermath of the disaster, students were taught in the open road Sunday, Professor Bijuli Pandit said. The protesting students informed that they were

forced to take to the streets after the Chief District Officer Durga Prasad Bhandari failed to vacate the schools despite repeated requests. Students and teachers said that they held classes in the open as a show of symbolic protest against the district administration. Students demonstrated in different places of Inarwa while the teachers had taught them in the open field of the Sharada Higher Secondary Schoolin Inarwa.

Source: The Rising Nepal, 15 September 2008
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/detail.php?article_id=6793&cat_id=8

POST REPORT
KATHMANDU, Sept 13 - It's been almost a month since the Koshi breached its embankment. But the blame game goes on. Leaders in the central and state governments in India are trading charges with one another. Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar recently formed an inquiry commission, which is to conduct a probe into the breach in the river's eastern embankment. Inundation by this trans-border river affected around three million people in Bihar, and nearly 50,000 were displaced in Nepal.

The commission would be examining the steps taken by successive governments to implement the 1954 Nepal-India treaty, which provided for the constructing a high dam on the Koshi in Nepal to check flooding, reported The Times of India. Since little has been done on that count so far, the blame would certainly fall on the Center, which often paid lip service to the high dam proposal but did precious little for its construction, the newspaper said.

Many experts on either side of the border, however, are against the idea of a Koshi high dam and warn that it could be more destructive. Experts in both countries fear that given the region's location in a seismic zone and the nature of the river which carries silt in huge quantities the idea of constructing a high dam could be the cause of man-made devastation. The commission is also mandated to examine the steps taken by the state government for the upkeep of the embankment between 1990 and 2005, when Lalu Prasad Yadav's party ruled the state. This provision indicates a deft move by the Chief Minister to reply to Yadav, who has been continuously blaming the state government for failing to stop "avoidable havoc."

The commission's terms of reference include finding out whether there was any "negligence by any individual, institution, and government officials" in preventing the breach on August 18, according to The Indian Express. The terms of reference also require the commission to inquire into the Koshi's past, putting

the central government's role and responsibility under scrutiny. The commission has been asked to find out whether the recommendations of the Koshi high-level committee, which includes representatives from the Center, were cleared by New Delhi and executed by the Bihar government, the report said.

The commission has also been asked to find out whether the "Koshi project was envisaged to provide temporary relief only for a period of 25 years" and "provided for construction of dam across Koshi, as well as some check dams across tributaries," reported The Indian Express. The commission is to submit its report within six months. The Koshi High-Level Committee is a central body that recommends necessary flood-control measures while the Bihar government is responsible for implementing them and maintaining the embankments.
According to the bilateral Koshi agreement, the government of Nepal can only facilitate the work of the Indian teams when they are in Nepali territory for construction or maintenance. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is expected to give top priority to the Koshi issue during his visit to India, which starts on Sunday. Majority of political parties in Nepal have suggested Dahal press the Indian government to provide compensation to thousands of flood victims and for reconstruction work according to the bilateral agreement.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, 14 September, 2008

Experts’ take on Koshi flood management

Himalayan News Service Kathmandu, September 4:

Water resources experts pointed out that new designs and constructions, along with the review of the Koshi agreement, are needed for better control of the Himalayan river. Efforts should also be made to ensure that breaches do not occur in the embankments of the river that resulted in flood fury. The experts were speaking at a programme organised by the Jalsrot Vikas Sanstha.

Research shows that the Saptakoshi is shifting its course. In fact, it has shifted 120 km westward over the last 200 years. “The problem to manage the river is far difficult than it actually appears,” said Dr Ananda Bahadur Thapa, an expert. Earlier the structures could easily cope with the flood discharge — estimated over 900 thousand cusec — but this time around merely 180 thousand cusec led to the change in its course." At present, the detention basin in the upstream of the barrage, at Hanuman Nagar, is full of sediments. The embankments might have been ineffective to control even relatively moderate

floods,” Thapa explained. The river originates in the Himalayas and flows into the plains at Chatara. It brings about 120 million cubic metres of sediments, along with 52 billion cubic metres of water, annually. At a conservative estimate, the volume is five times greater than the Sutlej of Bhakra and at least two times more than that of the Nile of Aswan. “Existing measures of embankments may be short-lived. It is necessary to adopt soil conservation and construction of storage reservoirs,” Thapa added.

As per the Koshi agreement in 1954, which was later revised in 1966, the 1,100-metre barrage has been built with 32-km embankment and 57 spurs to direct excess water flow towards centre of the river instead of banks — in the eastern side (read Sunsari) and another 25-km in the western side of the embankments that consist of 41 spurs. The Indian government is responsible for its maintenance and operation. “Though the length of each spur was around 200-300m at the time of the construction, it has now been reduced to less than 50m.

The condition of the embankments is very poor. Besides, river training structures were never maintained to meet the original standard,” admitted Shital Babu Regmi, joint secretary, Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR). “The breach needs to be plugged and flow of the river should be diverted through the barrage,” he explained. “Nothing could be done till the water level recedes. The government is working with India on a long-term programme. But these initiatives can only be implemented after two years,” said Shankar Prasad Koirala, secretary, MoWR.

Source: The Himalayan Times, 5 September 2008 http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?
filename=aFanata0scqzpla0Ra1a9a.axamal&
folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20080905



‘Reconstruction of Koshi embankment top priority’

RAJBIRAJ, Sept 4: Raising the issue of Koshi agreement, some big political parties in the government have been involved in petty politics, said Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Jay Prakash Prasad Gupta. Gupta, who arrived in Saptari district to inspect the flood ravaged areas, said, "It is ridiculous to say that the Koshi embankment breached due to the flaw in the agreement." At a programme organised by the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Saptari branch, he said the Indian government committed a mistake by not repairing the barrage on time. It was also a mistake on the part of the then government in Nepal by not raising the issue of spur repairing considering the sensitivity of the matter, he said.

"If the havoc was the result of human mistakes, then this a criminal incident," Minister Gupta said. Stating that the government is tangled in the Koshi agreement, he said it is the need at present to repair the embankment, rather than taking up the issue of reviewing the treaty. He also said that he has suggested the government to declare Saptari’s Bhardaha, where more than 20,000 flood victims have been living, as an emergency area.

The Minister also demanded to form a neutral high-power commission on the Koshi flood issue. Meanwhile in Damauli, nine persons have been killed and seven injured in floods and landslides in Tanahu so far this year. According to district natural disaster rescue committee, 23 houses were completely destroyed and 25 partially damaged in flood and landslide related incidences. Likewise, four houses were at risk, three cowsheds were damaged and 13 domestic animals were killed. Physical infrastructure like roads, canals, drinking water supply lines, dams and electric poles were also damaged. This year, Purkot, Rupakot, Barbhanjyang, Bhanu, Basantapur and Satiswara VDCs were more affected by the floods and landslides.

Meanwhile in Lekhnath, the Kaski District Administration Office has decided to provide relief to the four families displaced by a landslide in Namarjung VDC-5 of the district. Out of the 14 displaced families, four family will received Rs 4,000 each under the local administration’s relief programme. They include families of Om Bahadur Gurung, Akbar Gurung, Yam Bahadur Gurung and Sushil Kumar Gurung.

With the other displaced families failing to produce citizenship certificates for approval, their names have not recommended for relief. Earlier, the Kaski District Development Committee had provided Rs 2,000 and the VDC provided Rs 1,000 each to the 50 families affected by the landslide.

Source: The Rising Nepal, 5 September 2008

http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/detail.php?article_id=6196&cat_id=8



Rs. 2.5 B set aside for rescue, relief

Kathmandu, Sept. 4 The cabinet meeting Thursday decided to allocate Rs. 2.5 billion to implement different programmes including rescue operation, relief distribution, health services, rehabilitation, and conduction of agriculture-related programmes in the flood affected areas in Sunsari.

Thousands of people were displaced and victimised because of the floods caused by Koshi embankment breach two weeks ago. The amount would be disbursed in three phases, Minister for Information and Communications Krishna Bahadur Mahara said.

The Council of Ministers decided for an immediate release of Rs. 500 million to conduct rescue, relief, rehabilitation and other programmes in the flood-hit areas, Mahara said.

The cabinet passed a high level detail study report of the damage of the flood caused by the Saptakoshi River in Sunsari district, Local Development Minister Ram Chandra Jha told The Rising Nepal. The report assesses the expenses of relief distribution and rehabilitation plan to be implemented by Agriculture, Water Resource, Physical Planning, Health and Communications ministries. The cabinet also decided to conduct rescue and other relief operations by announcing emergency in the inundated VDCs in Sunsari. The VDCs including Paschim Kusaha, Haripur, Laukahi, Basantapur, Bhokraha, Madhuban and Barsing will be declared as emergency areas, Minister Mahara said. The cabinet also formed a central level monitoring committee under the coordination of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam to oversee and monitor the relief distribution programmes, construction of embankments, opening alternative diversions and controlling the erosion of land by swollen Saptakoshi.

Members of the central level committee are Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ and Physical Planning and Construction Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar. Minister Mahara said that local level monitoring committees would be formed that would include government officials, representatives of political parties and business community.

Meanwhile, the meeting also decided to accept a Rs. 7 billion grant offered by the European Union. The meeting has also decided to assign the Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Janardan Sharma to hold dialogues with the agitating Haliyas of West Nepal.

Source: The Rising Nepal, 5 September 2008

http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/detail.php?article_id=6184&cat_id=5



Kosi emergency

Three weeks after the Kosi breach, the government Thursday declared an emergency in Sunsari and Saptari, and is trying to avert an even bigger flood.

The government on Thursday declared five worst-hit VDCs of Saptari and Sunsari as 'emergency areas' to facilitate and expedite rehabilitation and reconstruction work. The cabinet passed a proposal of Rs 2.5 billion and released Rs 500 million for relief and housing of the displaced. The number of displaced is now nearing 100,000, many are taking shelter in schools and the rest are forced to live along highway embankments.

Burglary and theft are on the rise and male members of families are guarding their inundated houses, risking their lives. Relief boats are charging marooned villagers for rescue. Even relief materials are being stolen. The emergency means that the fundamental rights of the people in flood-hit areas will be suspended, the mobility of people restricted and security stepped up. "These works will be carried out under the ministries of Home Affairs, Health and Education, Physical Planning and Works," Information Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara told the press after the cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Sitalbabu Regmi, joint secretary at the Ministry of Water Resource, says the real challenge is to change the course of river before it destroys more of the embankment. "The works at spur no 11 and 12 are underway and the Indian team is working to plug the breach," he told the nepalitimes.com.

Repair teams have been placing sand filled sacks and stones packed within wire nets along the embankment to prevent the breach from getting bigger. "We still can not rule out the possibility of bigger floods," says Regmi, The biggest flood ever on the Kosi was in October 1968 when the flow was measured at 930,000 cusec, currently the river is flowing at 120,000 cusecs and most of it has bypassed the Kosi barrage.

When the Kosi breached the east embankment on August 18, the water was measured 1,80,000 cusec, indicating that the 50-year-old border barrage has outlived its lifespan. "The river training structures were never maintained to meet the standard," Regmi said.It is the Bihar government which is responsible for the maintenance of the embankment and spur, but India has said inadequate local security prevented their teams from carrying out repairs.

Dewan Rai

Source: The Nepali Times, 5 september 200

http://www.nepalitimes.com.np/2008/09/5/88

Somnath Bastola
Itahari, August 30: Twenty-year-old Kiran Pathak has suffered incalculable loss in Saptakoshi floods. Her house and land went under water when the Saptakoshi river entered Bramhan Tol in Haripur-3. She has been looking for her parents, who went missing the day her house and land got submerged.

“I don’t know whether my parents, uncle and auntie are dead or alive,” said Kiran, the only daughter of Nityananda and Bina Pathak. “I searched them everywhere in the camps, including in the Inaruwa-based temporary camp at Bal Mandir Lower Secondary School.” Kiran was at her relative’s house on August 18, the day the river wrecked havoc after breaching a section of the Saptakoshi embankment. She heard the news of flooding in Dharan. “I rushed home the next day only to see the disaster,” she said. “My parents and kin have been missing for the last 11 days.” Her brother Niranjan Pathak has been missing for five years. Security personnel are learnt to have arrested Niranjan on the charge of being a Maoist cadre. A tearful Kiran said, “I feel left alone in this world now. I see no reason to live.” Kiran has not given up hope, though. She hopes to find her parents and relatives one day.

She hoped that her parents might have been living alongside a distant road. “I requested the administration, the police and other organisations to find the status of my missing kin, but they have simply turned a blind eye to my woes,” said Kiran.


Source: The Himalayan Times August 31, 2008,

http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename
=aNPata0sfqzpla0Wa3pa.axamal&folder=aNPataiaoanaaal&Name
=National&sImageFileName=

Koshi flood takes its toll on industries

Shekhar Regmi Biratnagar, August 30 : Flooding of the East-West Highway has affected industries along the Sunsari-Morang corridor.

Unable to supply products to Kathmandu and markets in the western region for 10 days, industries have cut down their production by 70 per cent. The Biratnagar Custom Office (BCO) is bearing a loss of Rs 10 million daily as industries are not importing raw materials from India and other countries. Before the flooding, the BCO used to collect Rs 1.6 crore as import tax every day. After the Saptakoshi disaster, the collection has gone down to Rs 55 lakh for a week. Businessmen based in the Sunsari-Morang corridor have not registered L/C for the import of raw material for a week. Goods produced here used to be supplied to Kathmandu and districts in the western region.

“Most of the industries in the Sunsari-Morang corridor have reduced production by 70 per cent after the flooding brought vehicular movement to a halt along the East-West Highway,” Dinesh Golchha, chairman, Trade Organisation Morang, said. With the consent of Indian customs based in Jogbani, some businessmen are supplying goods to Kathmandu and western districts via Purnea, Barauni, Samstipur and Raxaul. The goods are routed to Birgunj customs and transported to different parts of the country. But the cost of transporting goods has doubled as vehicles have to travel a distance of around 180 kilometres to reach Birgunj from Jogbani. “With the increase in transportation costs, market prices of goods is bound to increase by up to four rupees each kg,” Mahesh Jaju, chairman of the Morang Trade Association said. Around 80 goods carriers used to leave for the west daily before the flood fury. Over 25 tonnes of goods are produced in industries based in the Sunsari-Morang corridor on a daily basis.
Source: The Himalayan Times, August 31 2008

http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=a
NPata0sa2qzpla0Wa3ra.axamal&folder=a
NPataiaoanaaal&Name=National&sImageFileName=

M gives directives to secretaries for flood victims

Kathmandu, August 28:
The Central Natural Disaster Relief Committee meeting held under the coordination of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ Thursday directed the concerned authorities including ministry secretaries to take special initiative to provide immediate relief to the Koshi flood victims and prepare a package programme to address the flood-induced problems. The Committee meeting directed the concerned officials to prepare a package programme that includes rescue, relief distribution, infrastructure repair and construction, management of alternative roads or transportation and repair and construction of embankments around the Koshi flood affected areas, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dev Gurung told The Rising Nepal.

The Committee also directed the concerned authorities to hold dialogues with Indian officials to address the flood-induced problems in an effective manner, Gurung said. "The meeting also decided to form a high level committee to study the Koshi flood havoc and submit recommendations." The meeting directed to prepare a full relief package by Sunday, Minister for Physical Planning and Construction Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar said.  Meanwhile, a technical team has also been directed to submit a report on opening a diversion on the East-West Highway where the flood has destroyed road.

It is learnt that a cabinet meeting to be held on Monday next week is likely to endorse the package programme prepared as per the direction given in today’s meeting. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry said Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ expressed commitment at a meeting with concerned industrialists to settle the issue of syndicate system within two months, forming an all-side committee considering the problems of consumers. It was also directed to manage security to those operating transportation. The district administration offices have also been directed to take punitive measure against those obstructing the transportation.

Source: The Rising Nepal, 29 August 2008
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/detail.php?article_id=5759&cat_id=4

 Saptakoshi embankment protection work begins

Kathmandu, Aug. 27:
Saptakoshi Disaster Management Coordination Committee Wednesday started its works of protecting and repairing the Koshi embankments. The committee has started its assigned works establishing a Command Post in Biratnagar, the Home Ministry said.
The committee started works as per the instruction made by the members of the high level committee, which was formed on Tuesday. The members of the high level committee comprising Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’, Physical Planning Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhedar, Home Secretary Umesh Mainali, Defence Secretary Baman Prasad Neupane, IGP Om Bikram Rana, IGP of Armed Police Force Basudev Oli

and joint secretary Pratap Kumar Pathak inspected spurs 11.00 and 12.00 RD constructed at Toribari of Braha VDC-6 in Sunsari district, the Home Ministry said.
Source: The Rising Nepal, 29 August, 2008
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/detail.php?article_id=5706&cat_id=4

Lalitpur, Aug. 27:
The central committee meeting of the Nepali Congress held Wednesday urged the government not to politicise the havoc triggered by the Koshi floods in east Nepal and appealed for the stepping up of relief operations in the wake of reports that the flood victims were not getting adequate food, health care and proper shelter. It has asked the government along with the Constituent Assembly (CA) chairman to call an all party meeting to find out ways for forging help from all possible sides to make the relief operations effective.

Underscoring the need to reach out for additional foreign assistance to rescue and provide relief to the flood victims, the meeting concluded that it was India’s special responsibility to reconstruct the damaged embankment. The meeting also requested India to begin the reconstruction of damaged barrage. Acting President Sushil Koirala informed the press about the NC decision on the problems created by the Koshi floods after two of the spurs of the Koshi dam gave way and induced damage to human settlement. He also made public the party’s stance on another flood in the Tinau River in Butwal, which has thrown life out of gear, and warned the government not to politicise the incidents of floods.

The meeting also asked the government to intensify the relief operations, reconstruct the damaged embankment and prevent further damage, rehabilitate the victims, prevent possible endemics, make arrangements for alternative road transportation and seek long term plan to address the problem. "The government should have coordinated with all the political parties to rehabilitate the flood victims but instead it has been trying to give a political colour to the issue, which is regrettable," a press statement of the party said. "Had the Koshi dam not been there then the loss to human life and property would have been of a massive scale, hence instead of protesting against the construction of the dam, it would be wiser to mount pressure for its reconstruction," Vice President Ram Chandra Paudel said responding to a query whether the Maoist proposal to review the Koshi treaty with India was worth reckoning.

Acting President Koirala informed that the NC Constituent Assembly members had contributed Rs. 2,000 and central committee members Rs. 1,000 each to the NC Flood Victim Central Assistance Committee. He informed that a central level team of the party visited the Koshi embankment area and the committee was actively collecting assistance for the victims. The meeting, which continued for the third day today, discussed the contemporary political issues. The meeting was postponed for 12:05 a.m.

Thuraday. Twenty Seven out of the 64 central members have already put forth their views.

Party spokesperson Arjun Narsingh K.C. informed that most of the members had raised the issue of improvement of party organisation and common leadership in the party. He said, "NC still wants consensual politics to write new constitution and give the peace process a logical end."

Source: The Rising Nepal, 29 August 2008
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/detail.php?article_id=5705&cat_id=4

RAJBIRAJ, Aug 28:
Rehabilitation of the people displaced by flooding in Koshi River in organized camps has begun. Flood victims have been relocated to the camps set up by the Koshi victims Society, Saptari, with the aid of OXFAM, said Jibachha Mishra, Chief District Officer and Chairman of the Natural Calamities Relief Committee, Saptari. The flooding in Koshi River displaced 21,140 members of 3,260 families in Pashim Kusaha, Laukahi and Sripur VDCs of Sunsari. The displaced have been living in Bhardaha, Portaha, Yoginiya and in Koshi dam. Installation of 3,000 temporary camps for the displaced living in Koshi dam is underway rapidly. CDO Mishara said of them, OXFAM aided for 2,500 camps and other organisations are setting up the remaining camps.

The World Food Programme has provided 234 metric tones of food for the displaced. Similarly, Rural Re-construction is installing 100 toilets and 100 tube-wells and CARE Nepal is doling out utensils, hygiene kit, mats and clothing, the CDO said. "We have already settled some displaced in 250 camps and efforts are underway to rehabilitate the others," he added. In Biratnagar, changing its course, 75 per cent water of the Saptakoshi River has begun gushing out through the spur broken area, Natural Calamities Relief Committee, Sunsari has stated.

Water-level in the barrage was 26,508 cusec this morning but around 80,000 cusec water was flowing through the breached area, the Koshi Barrage Control Center said. According to the information received, Koshi Barrage has the capacity up to 600,000 cusec water; however, the barrage had only 100,000 cusec water on the day the dam was destroyed. The embankment collapsed not due to the high water level but because it had become fragile, said Rameshwor Khadka, Chief of Water-Induced Disaster Control Office, Biratnagar. The rapid course of the embankment crumbling down has widened to 1,600 meter, Khadka said. He ruled out the possibility of immediate plugging the embankment and added that construction and repair of spurs to control the further breaching has begun. Despite slow breaching of the embankment at north, water-flow towards south has increased heightening chances of breaking apart embankment at south, Khadka said. "Considering the depth and flow of water in the embankment broken area,"

said Khadka, "we have concluded that the embankment can not be plugged untill the monsoon gets over." Earlier in Bhadrapur, with the Ramchandraahi river continuing to

breach the dam, possibility of flood entering some villages in south of Jhapa district is high. The river swollen due to incessant rainfall since a few days ago has been cutting the embankment rapidly in Khajurgachi-3.

Only two meters of the dam is left to be breached by the river, VDC Secretary Chandra Mohan Ganesh informed. Ganesh said that once the dam is breached, paddy planted in hundreds of bighas of land will be destroyed and dozens of families will be displaced. Efforts to control the breaching of the dam have not been made yet.
Meanwhile, flooding in Kankai River has displaced two households in Shivgunj VDC.

Source: The Rising Nepal, 29 August 2008

http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/detail.php?article_id=5772&cat_id=8

Flood-hit in Need of Drugs, Food: Report

THT Online Kathmandu, August 29:
Flood victims living in areas west of the Saptakoshi river have been facing a shortage of medicines, food and medical personnel, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division said in a report. An EDCD team prepared the report after visiting the affected areas.
The report states that patients have been facing a shortage of medicines, food and medical personnel. According to Dr Bindeshwar Prasad Yadav, an epidemiologist at the EDCD, doctors at the Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital, the only hospital in the area, have been finding it difficult to look after patients. "In five days, the hospital treated 4,440 patients," he said, urging the authorities concerned to address the shortage of manpower, medicines and food.

The report urges the government to supply fuel for ambulances and provide allowances to medical staffers, who have been working round the clock. According to Yadav, 25 medical staffers have been attending to the patients at the hospital.

An additional sum of Rs 1.6 million is needed to provide health service to the flood
victims, the report states. "Outbreaks have not been reported yet, but the area is prone to outbreaks of cholera, Japanese Encephalitis and malaria," said Dr Yadav. The field report will be presented to the Health Ministry and other authorities tomorrow, he said.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Drinking Water and Sanitation Users-Nepal on Thursday called on authorities concerned to make arrangements for supply of potable water to the flood victims and build toilets for them. It also called for maintenance of water sources and pipelines that have been damaged due to flooding in the Saptakoshi river.

Source: The Himalayan Times, 29 August, 2008
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0va2
qzpla0Va4ua.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20080829

HNS/RSS
Kathmandu, August 28:
A meeting of the National Calamity Relief and Rescue Department held here today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ directed ministry secretaries and experts to take special initiative to provide relief to the Saptakoshi flood victims and re-open the East-West Highway. Stating that the meeting directed to prepare a full package of relief by Sunday, Minister for Physical Planning and Works Bijay Kumar Gachhedar informed that even the national and international donors were asked to assist flood victims.

A technical team has also been directed to submit a report on an alternative to some 10 km of the East-West Highway, which was swept away by the Saptakoshi River.

Present in the meeting were Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Minister for Physical Planning and Works Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affair Dev Prasad Gurung. The PM also directed secretaries and technical experts of the ministries concerned to come up with an integrated immediate, medium and long-term plan to control eroding of the Koshi embankment and submit the detailed report to the government by Sunday. Gachhadar, addressing a consultative meeting of all the parties in the Constituent Assembly organised by Speaker Subas Nembang, said the government would move as per the integrated technical report. Nembang had called the meeting to solicit suggestions on the measures to control erosion of the embankment by Koshi.

Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ said, “With the eastern embankment completely washed away, we must be prepared to review the Koshi Treaty and we must review the benefits that Nepal got from the treaty. We must also review what led to the breach of the Koshi embankment when flow of water in the river was far

below the danger mark.”Gachhadar said the eastern embankment collapsed after locals did not allow Indian workers to work on the vulnerable site. He said 1,100 metres of the embankment had been washed away and there was a risk of further erosion of other spurs.

Home Secretary Umesh Mainali, Water Resources Secretary Shankar Koirala and Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works Purna Prasad Kaderiya attended the meeting. Mainali said 10,7272 people, mostly from four VDCs, were displaced and over 7,000 households were destroyed. He said the displaced people were taking shelter in 27 temporary camps in Sunsari and Saptari. “There is no shortage of relief materials but systematic distribution is lacking,” Mainali said. Water Resources Secretary Koirala said 90 per cent flood water was flowing through the changed course towards east, posing difficulty to launch immediate repair works.

Source: The Himalayan Times, 29 August, 2008
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory
.asp?filename=aFanata0sdqzpla0Va5sa.axamal&folder
=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20080829

 HNS ITAHARI:
A high-level Indian technical team for re-construction of the Saptakoshi dam spurs arrived in Sunsari on Thursday. The six-member team is being led by engineer Nilendra Sanyal, Chief District Officer Durga Bhandari said. Sanyal is a renowned water resources expert. The team would make an on-the-spot inspection visit prepare a detailed report on ways to tame the Koshi River.

The Indian team met Deputy Director General of the Water Resources Department Anil Pokhrel, who is leading the Nepali team, in Mahendranagar and dwelt on how to begin the task. The flood control work won’t begin for another three months, as the Koshi River has potential to wreak more havoc, Pokhrel said.

Source: The Himalayan Times, 29 August, 2008
 http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0sgqzp
la0Va5ra.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20080829

Bihar asks Delhi to take up floods with Nepal

Post Report
NEW DELHI, Aug 28 -
The Bihar government has urged the Indian Prime Minister's Office to actively pursue diplomatic initiatives with Nepal to find a solution to the problem of flooding, PTI reported Thursday. "North Bihar has perennially faced the woe of floods from rivers emanating from Nepal. 671 villages spread in 242 panchayats, which lie along the new course of the river, have been inundated this time," PTI said quoting a letter from the Bihar government addressed to the Prime Minister.  "Having officers of Foregin Affairs, Water Resources and Bihar government, the STF in the PMO must actively pursue diplomatic initiatives with Nepal for the construction of high dams, massive re-forestation in the upper catchment area of the rivers and strengthening of embankments there," PTI said quoting a state government release.

The report said the demand assumes significance in the wake of Nepal's Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav's visit to India.  "The central government is likely to discuss the issue with him to find a permanent solution to the problem which has been affecting Bihar for decades," the PTI report said.  Acting on a missive from the Bihar government, the Centre earlier wrote a letter to the Nepal government to take measures at their end in this regard, according to the report.

The Bihar government also sought an additional 100 motorboats from the central government as evacuation of marooned people is posing a challenge.

The state on its own has mobilized 600 boats while the Indian Army chipped in with three columns of 10 boats each, with the NDMA providing 50 boats. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh made an aerial

survey of the flood-affected areas of Bihar accompanied by  Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson UPA, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Chemicals and Fertilizers and Steel Minister  Ram Vilas Paswan, and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
The prime minister expressed his deep anguish at the havoc caused by the unprecedented floods and directed that all possible steps be taken to ameliorate the suffering of the people. Terming this a national calamity, Dr. Manmohan Singh announced immediate release of 10,000 million rupees to the Government of Bihar for rescue and relief. The prime minister declared that the Centre would extend all possible assistance to the state government. The Government of India will provide necessary material and technical assistance to the state government to prevent further deterioration in the embankments and protective structures. A high-level team would be set up to coordinate matters with the government of Nepal.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, 29 August, 2008

POST REPORT
KATHMANDU, Aug 28 -
 The UN World Food Program (WFP)-Nepal has announced it is mobilizing emergency food aid for 50,000 people displaced by floods in the eastern Tarai. The UN food agency's announcement came in response to the Nepal government's request for help after the Koshi floods left thousands homeless.

 The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) made an early commitment of US$ 1.5 million. The contribution will cover the costs of food assistance for 50,000 people for up to 30 days, and also some post-flood recovery activities. According to the statement, WFP will need an additional US$1.5 to 3 million in contributions to meet longer-term food needs provide livelihood support, and for recovery of flood victims. "We were able to quickly get food moving to thousands of displaced families affected by these devastating floods," said Richard Ragan, WFP-Nepal country representative  in a statement. "However, we are concerned about the continuous rain which could increase the number of people in need of food. The statement said WFP will provide a 15-day food basket consisting of rice, pulses, salt and vegetable oil to 50,000 flood victims as an initial response.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, 29 August, 2008

BY THIRA L BHUSAL & SHANKAR KHAREL
KOSHI TAPPU (SUNSARI), Aug 28 -
 Indian officials have agreed to start repair and reconstruction of the Koshi-devastated spurs along the river in Nepal, 11 days after the embankment was breached wreaking havoc in over four VDCs of Sunsari district. The Indian side is ready to reconstruct the destroyed spurs as there is increasing risk of the Koshi River expanding further east.

Deputy Director General of Department of Irrigation Anil Kumar Pokharel informed that the Indian authorities are prepared to carry out reconstruction work on a war-footing with a view to strengthen two spurs located 13.5 kilometers north of the Koshi barrage. The Indian side has mobilized all means and resources, according to Pokharel. Spurs are important infrastructure that stop river flow and protect embankments. The Koshi submerged thousands of hectares of land because of lack of repair and maintenance of these two spurs. The Koshi had breached its embankment at western Kushaha on August 18.

"Indian authorities have reached a three-point agreement with the Nepali side and have set priorities," Pokharel said. The authorities have agreed to

immediately protect all  spurs situated north of the point of breach, that is 12.5 kilometers north of the Koshi barrage. "The Indian side is serious about not allowing the Koshi to spread further and is working as per the agreement," he said.

The Indian authorities have also selected contractors to transport boulders from Chatara in Sunsari and Letang in Morang district. The Indian side will repair and improve the road stretching from Loukahi to Koshi Tappu so that heavy vehicles can carry boulders for completion of the work without further delay. "Repair work will start on a war footing from tomorrow (Friday)," said Pokharel. As per the agreement, the Indian side will repair and reconstruct two spurs at West Kushaha and Rajabas. Half of the spur situated 13 kilometers north of the barrage has already been damaged.

The river will divert eastward unless this spur is immediately strengthened. There is only 500 meter gap between the spur and the breached embankment. Likewise, the spur at Rajabas in Sunsari is quite vulnerable also. "If this one is not strengthened, the Koshi can divert from this point as well," Pokharel said. The Indian authorities have selected two separate contractors to repair these spurs, said Shrawan Kumar, Junior Engineer at Pramandal Bathnaha, India, who is working at the breached embankment site. He said it would not be possible to reconstruct the destroyed embankment until the water level subsided significantly, and that they had given priority to protect the remaining parts. "Our objective at the moment is to protect the remaining ones," he said.

A senior technical team headed by a Chief Engineer from Bihar is currently busy in discussions with Nepali counterparts. About 300 laborers have been working since Wednesday at the site. "The Koshi flow has been diverted toward the east. If this spur is breached, the river will submerge land even up to Inaruwa municipality," said Amar

Bahadur Thapa, a local who looks after  construction work. "We will stay here until October 15, which is generally taken as the flood period. By that time, work to protect the embankment will be completed," he said. The Indian representative said that currently there was no security problem.

Over 15,000 displaced Indians of Arariya, Supoul, Baguwan, Basanpur, Dumarwana, Dhurna and other parts of Bihar state have come to Sunsari and Morang districts as of Thursday. They said they came to Nepal hoping to get relief after they were not provided even foodstuff for over a week in their country.

CDO of Sunsari, Durga Bhandari said they would offer humanitarian services to the Indians and would return them to Bihar in a few days. Over five million people in Bihar have been reportedly affected by the recent floods.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, 29 August, 2008

BY BINOD BHANDARI & BEDRAJ POUDEL
BIRATNAGAR, Aug 28
Damage to an approximately three-kilometer stretch of the East-West Highway on the Laukahi-Bhantabari section by Saptakoshi flooding 11 days ago has halted vehicular movement along this otherwise busiest highway, directly affecting thousands who use the route. Over 1,500 buses used to ferry some 60,000 people along the highway every day.

Following highway damage it has been a problem for both passengers and transport entrepreneurs, although some bus operators have begun ferrying people from Jogbani to Raxaul and Birgunj via Indian territory.

According to Kishor Dhamala, chairman of Nepal Free Transportation Workers Organization, only seven or eight buses have been making it to Kathmandu via this route.  "First, we have to obtain a route permit from the Indian embassy as permits issued by the local administration are not valid," he said, adding. "And above all, the journey is three times longer and more costly, taking 32 to 35 hours to reach Kathmandu." He opined that they could resume transport immediately if bailey-bridge was constructed at the damaged section of the highway.

Hundreds rendered jobless
Following complete halt to transport along the highway, over 12,000 transport workers have gone without any work, thus making it hard for their families to make ends meet. Their woe has been compounded as they are being denied remuneration by vehicle owners on the eve of the Dashain festival. Transport entrepreneurs who purchased vehicles on credit are also hard hit as they have no income to pay installments due.

Passengers flock airlines
Although Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines offices at Biratnagar doubled their flights following the surge in number of passengers lately, these have not been sufficient as the crowds seeking plane tickets are yet to decrease. Station manager of Yet Airlines Prem Kunwar informed that all their tickets were booked for the coming four days and many more people were coming for tickets every day.

Many passengers complain that the government is yet to pay heed to their plight even 11 days after  the highway was damaged. "If alternative flights to Janakpur or Rajbiraj were operated, it would be very much easier for us to go west or board buses westward," said one passenger. Those willing to go to Siraha, Saptari, Dhanusha and other districts west of the Saptakoshi have to first go to Kathmandu and catch a bus there.

Incessant rain, storm add woe
Meanwhile, displaced people sheltering at Bhardaha in Saptari and in the southern parts of Sunsari district are sure to face hardship as their makeshift huts were blown away by storm and the relief food they received was damaged in the rain Wednesday night. Chief District Officer of Saptari, Jiwachha Mishra, said that the continuous rainfall was posing a problem in carrying out proper rehabilitation and relief distribution. Over 30,000 displaced, including those coming from India, have been sheltering there

Source: The Kathmandu Post, 29 August,2008

POST REPORT
KATHMANDU, Aug 28 -
More than 1,000 people at Prakashpur village in Koshi Tappu area are at risk of being swept away by the Koshi flood and should be rescued immediately, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said on Thursday. Making public its field report prepared by the Ram Nagina Singh-led team, the constitutional human rights watchdog said the place where people are sheltering is being constantly eroded by the Koshi flood on two sides. People came to the place after the flood entered their village last week. "Those who are at risk should be rescued immediately," NHRC Chairman Kedar Nath Upadhyay said at a press meet organized to disseminate the report at NHRC office in Lalitpur. 

Singh, who had been to flooded areas of Sunsari early this week, added that local administration and security agencies had not paid attention to rescuing them as they had to focus on providing security to VVIPs from Kathmandu who visited flooded areas. According to the report, displaced pregnant and nursing mothers who are sheltering in temporary camps in Sunsari district are living in miserable condition.

Similarly, NHRC said that schools in flood affected areas and in and around Inaruwa have remained closed.  Sufficient relief materials have been provided at affected areas but there is lack of coordination in distributing the materials to victims, according to the report. Similarly, there is possibility of outbreak of epidemic at the camps due to lack of necessary health services, the body warned.

Probe flooding: NHRC
In the meantime, NHRC has recommended that the government form a committee to probe the embankment breach in Sunsari district. "Nepal and India have blamed each other for the embankment breach. It is necessary to find who is responsible for this," NHRC member Pradhan said.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, 29 August, 2008

By ambikesh kumar jha
The monsoon this year has been less active than in previous years. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the average monthly rainfall during July and August has remained well below 300 mm compared to past downpours which measured more than 300 mm. Still the nation has been hit by a devastating flood. In fact, the scale of the loss of life and property caused by the overflowing Koshi recently has not been seen for 200 years. Over 70,000 people in Nepal and two million in India have been affected by the Koshi's wrath. It is, therefore, essential to dissect the reasons, weaknesses and negligence leading to this natural (or manmade?) calamity. The efforts of all concerned are required to mitigate the destruction caused by the flood.

Reports show that, under the terms of the Koshi treaty, the overall responsibility of managing and maintaining the barrage and embankments lies with India. The river went into flood because its eastern embankment was not properly maintained and thus got washed away easily. The discharge of the Koshi during that time was less than 200,000 cusec, far less than the 400,000 cusec of previous years. Had the embankments been maintained properly, such a large human tragedy could have been avoided. It is, therefore, natural to blame India for not abiding by the agreement and keeping the embankment in good repair.

However, it is also the responsibility of the host country Nepal to cooperate, coordinate and ensure that the embankment is maintained. It should have initiated appropriate measures in time to prevent the disaster. Therefore, the Nepal government too is equally responsible for the misery of the people in Sunsari. The Indian Embassy in Nepal had previously blamed lack of cooperation by the local authorities. If true, it points to gross negligence on the part of our local administration. It is because administrators from elsewhere do not have adequate understanding of local conditions and might be less responsive to the

requirements of the residents that people in various parts of Nepal have been demanding self-governance.

The Koshi embankment has remained vulnerable for the past 15 years. Earlier, there was a rail track alongside the eastern embankment to facilitate maintenance of the embankment. The rail track was used for carrying stone and other construction material for reinforcing the embankment. Little care was taken to protect and maintain the track. As a result, the steel rails got stolen; and now there is nothing left. In recent times, demand for stones has increased tremendously as exporting them to India became a lucrative enterprise. Contractors and operators of crusher plants were tempted to remove the stones placed on the embankment as the local administration was totally indifferent to what was going on. This weakened the embankment.

The government has failed to reduce the risk. Despite knowing that the embankment was going to fail, it took no action to shift the inhabitants to safer places. There was no flood warning system, and the people were asleep at their homes when the fury of the Koshi struck them with full force at midnight. Rescue and relief operations got delayed while the major political parties engaged in power sharing deals. Political equations were more important to them than the plight of drowning citizens. The government has not declared a state of emergency, and the Koshi flood has not been recognized as a national tragedy.

There is no clear account of the loss of lives and property. While eyewitnesses claim that hundreds drowned, the local authorities and sections of the media have been trying to play down the seriousness of the tragedy. Rehabilitation and resettlement have not yet started. It is also surprising to learn that the local authorities have been asking the flood victims to show citizenship papers before providing them basic humanitarian assistance. Telling the hapless residents to produce official documents is not only preposterous in itself, they wouldn't be paying particular attention to grabbing pieces of paper when their whole world was being swept away by the swirling waters.

The government must not let the local people, who are mostly Madhesis, feel that they are being treated differently. The Nepali people have greater hopes from the new government. Rebuilding trust and cooperation among its own communities and among the neighboring countries is a must for New Nepal.

The destruction of life and property caused by the raging Koshi extends beyond national borders. Therefore, it is not right to be blaming each other. This is the time to act, cooperate and learn from past mistakes so that such catastrophes do not happen again. Blaming India, whose two million people are struggling to save their lives and property from the flood, will hurt its people. We should instead join hands and face together the century's greatest natural disaster in eastern Nepal and northeastern Bihar. It is essential to realize the mistakes and correct them at the earliest.

(The writer is a water resources engineer and former general secretary of the Nepal Tarai Engineers' Society.)

Source: The Kathmandu Post, 29 August,2008