M A I N   N E W S

Opinion
Taming the Kosi
From Indo-Nepal sorrow to opportunity
B. G. Verghese

A catastrophe long feared occurred on August 18. The wayward Kosi burst through its eastern embankment in Nepal at Kushaha, by-passing the Bhimnagar Barrage constructed at the international border 12 kms further south, carving out a new course along its historically easternmost limits from which it had started migrating westwards some 200 years ago.

Two districts in Nepal and maybe 10 in Bihar have been inundated, affecting a population of 70,000 and 2.5 million persons respectively, with the possibility of these numbers increasing with any further surge of swollen waters.

The jilted Kosi Barrage is reportedly now passing only 20,000 cusecs of water as against 240,000 cusecs flowing through the Kushaha breach in Nepal that has widened to something approaching 1.6 kms.

Maintenance of the Barrage and embankments on both sides of the border was an Indian responsibility under the aegis of the Ganga Flood Control Commission which outsourced actual works to the Bihar Government.

The usual blame game has started within Bihar and between it and the Centre and even Nepal with an eye to electoral advantage when the need of the hour is a united resolve to overcome the crisis jointly.

Accountability must surely be fixed, but a little later, through an independent Indo-Nepal commission of inquiry which can do the job within weeks instead of the months and years normally sought and given to fudge responsibility.

Punishment must be swift and condign as embankment maintenance has traditionally sustained huge corruption at the cost of lives and welfare.

The immediate task is obviously relief for and rehabilitation of the victims and their livestock and the restoration of livelihoods. Prophylactic health measures must be a high priority if raging epidemics are to be avoided.

The PM has sanctioned over Rs 1000 crores for relief in respect of this “national calamity”, but more may be required, apart from the costs of reconstruction. The National Disaster Management Organisation has to be geared up to deliver sooner and better, learning from experience.

Concurrently, the Kosi breach must be plugged in collaboration with Nepal. A quick meeting of relevant Indo-Nepal authorities is obviously necessary and a joint authority must be designated to undertake and supervise this massive job.

If need be, Nepalese costs must be borne by India. This will require mobilisation of men and material and a plan of work to be executed as the flood recedes, which may not happen for a couple of months or more given late rains.

Simultaneously every effort must be made to coax the river back to its jacketed course above and below the Barrage, itself a fragile structure in need of renovation.

Finally, India and Nepal must expeditiously discuss and progress the larger issue of water resource development to mutual benefit. This has stalled for years and even decades on account of mistrust.

Nepal feels it was wronged on the Kosi and Gandak projects, both later renegotiated. Charges of bad faith and a periodic souring of Indo-Nepal relations and political crises obviated bold decision-making. The currently shared Kosi crisis should bond the two sides as it underlines a deeper truth, namely, a geo-physical relationship and the challenge of climate change that neither can disavow and only overcome or convert into opportunity through cooperative action.

Water resources, bio-diversity and tourism are Nepal’s three principal resources, their immense promise stunted without joint collaboration.

A High Dam at Barakshetra was proposed as far back as 1946 as the best hope for “taming” the Kosi and ensuring that the subsequent barrage and embankments constructed would not break or be by-passed.

A joint team charged with preparing a detailed project report has made little progress while the Pancheshwar Agreement, a landmark Treaty signed in 1995, has stalled.

India has offered new terms and these should be considered even as three medium PPP power project agreed upon, West Seti, Arun-III and the Karnali bend, are vigorously pursued.

With hundreds of rivers flowing down to India from Nepal, a more imaginative dialogue is required to promote mutual development and benefit, including utilisation of power within Nepal along its border with India, to attract investments and generate employment and incomes.

Multipurpose dams should be conceptualised as area development programmes that transform both the upper and lower catchments and trigger social development funded through a cess on the future stream of project profits, stakeholder participation, and in situ R&R.

On the Indian side the Kosi flood offers opportunity to rebuild a vibrant North Bihar countryside, based on new and more equitable land relationships and an imaginative spatial town and country plan covering the eight devastated districts, rather than mere restoration of the rural slum that has gone under water.

This calls for the immediate setting up of a national, multi-disciplinary task force to which NGERA could be harnessed alongside a national volunteer corps of professionals to help plan, execute and monitor.

Nepal is planning a new, shorter, all-weather north-south national highway from Birganj to Kathmandu and a second and larger international airport en route in the terai.

These developments could dovetail into Bihar’s matching post-flood reconstruction programme to create synergy in a catalyzing Indo-Nepal growth pole within, yet operationally independent of, any larger Indo-Nepal framework of cooperation.

Let adversity lead on to fortune. India and Nepal must discuss the larger issue of water resource development to mutual benefit.