Patna,(BiharTimes): Though many anti-dam activists of both Bihar and Nepal are opposed to the construction of high dams in the Himalayan republic on the plea that it would only aggravate the flood situation in north Bihar and may increase the risk of earthquake the Bihar government has reiterated its demand for construction of high dams in the upper reaches of Kosi, Kamla and Bagmati rivers, which originates from Himalaya in Nepal.
Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kathmandu the water resources development (WRD) minister of Bihar Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said it was high time the issue of high dams be discussed with the northern neighbour.
He said the experts have already identified ways to solve the chronic problem of flood. The construction of dams on upper reaches of Kosi in Barah area, Kamla river in Cheesapani and Bagmati in Noonthore have been recommended. In this direction, a joint project office was established in Biratnagar consisting of officers of India and Nepal, but no substantial progress was made in the last nearly two decades, partially because of lack of active cooperation from Nepal as well as no serious effort made by India government, he added.
According to him it is a chance that this problem has cropped up at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Nepal. The people of Bihar expect that Modi would do something effective and fruitful in this direction and would seriously take up the issue with his Nepal counterpart so that they are saved from the annual fury of flood.