Patna, (Bihar Times): Chief minister Nitish Kumar, on Saturday announced that the breach in the East Kosi afflux embankment at Kusaha in Nepal was finally plugged on Friday night.

Talking to reporters he claimed that the breach has been plugged two months ahead of the schedule deadline of March 31. This is a remarkable achievement for the water resource department, which rose to the challenge despite virulent criticism from some quarters. “We worked silently but sincerely to accomplish the task,” he said.

However, he conceded that though the breach has been plugged and the river pushed back to the course it was flowing through more than 30 years back, the embankment continued to be weak at many points.

It needs to be recalled that on August 18 last river Kosi breached at Kusaha in Nepal displacing 33 lakh people and sweeping away thousands of people and lakhs of cattle of both Nepal and India. The water inundated vast areas in Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura, Araria and Purnia districts.

The Chief Minister also chose the opportunity to launch a counter offensive against his political rivals, who had blamed his government's lapses for the disaster.

Nitish said some people sitting in the Union government without regarding the issue as one between two nations, put the blame for the breach on us.

Comment

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Mr. Nitish Kumar’s statement on completion of breach plugging in Kosi river embankment has brought good news to the flood affected areas of Supoul, Madhepura, Saharsa and Araria. It is primary duty of the government to take necessary actions against those who were responsible for this breach so, such incident would not happen in the future. The plugging is not compensation for the huge losses of lives and property caused by the devastating floods. The government should also be accountable to the people for alleged misuse of the funds reserved for this task. The government must do what can help upliftment of the oppressed people regardless of individuals’ criticism; all now that this is a technical work that can take much time to be completed. The politicians should focus on basic needs of the people apart from finding faults in functioning style of the government. They are not different in their performances, only difference between them that one is in position and other is in opposition. The government also should not take credit for its achievements but should regard it as obligatory duties required by the people of Bihar.
 
However this should be regarded as big achievements of the government’s functionaries.
Md. Imdad Alam
Riyadh – KSA

 imdad@sharaco.com.sa