Why is it in the news?

• Bihar is facing yet another flooding crisis, impacting approximately 11.84 lakh people who have been displaced and are dependent on air-dropped food packets while seeking shelter and facing water-borne disease risks.
• This annual cycle of devastation leads residents to lose crops and livestock, only to experience the same challenges the following year. The recurring issue stems from Bihar’s geography and long-standing, ineffective solutions.

An Analysis

• Bihar is deemed the most flood-prone state in India, with 76% of the north Bihar population living under constant flood threats, according to the Flood Management Improvement Support Centre (FMISC).
• The state’s Disaster Management Authority classifies floods into four categories, ranging from flash floods with short lead times to permanent waterlogged areas.
• The primary cause of frequent flooding is the state’s location below Nepal, where Himalayan rivers like the Kosi and Gandak flow, bringing significant sediment loads that cause overflow during heavy rains.
• Permanent waterlogging is exacerbated by factors such as silted rivers spilling over, encroachments on drainage channels, and local depressions known as Chaurs.
• This year’s floods were intensified by heavy rainfall in Nepal and water releases from the Kosi barrage, affecting districts like Supaul, Darbhanga, and Madhubani.
• Since the 1950s, embankments have been built along the Kosi River to manage its flow. However, these structures have frequently breached, leading to new issues. According to an NGO, the embankments have narrowed the river’s course, causing its bed to rise approximately five inches annually.
• This year’s flooding was aggravated by the release of 6.6 lakh cusecs of water from the Birpur barrage, the highest discharge in nearly six decades. Around 380 villages lie within the embankments, sheltering approximately 15 lakh people with no means of escape from annual floods.
• While Bihar’s floods may not always result in fatalities, the economic consequences are significant, impacting crops, infrastructure, and livestock, while prompting distress migration. The state government allocates around ₹1,000 crore annually for flood management and relief.

Proposed Solutions and Challenges

• Proposals for a dam on the Kosi have been discussed, but progress has stalled due to the need for cooperation from Nepal.
• Recently, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister met with Union Jalshakti Minister to propose additional barrages on the Kosi, Gandak, and Bagmati rivers. However, past experiences with embankments suggest that engineering solutions alone may be inadequate. Experts emphasize the need for non-structural solutions such as policy reforms and community training.
• The Flood Atlas of Bihar highlights that minimizing flood risks and damages may be more effective than solely relying on structural measures along dynamic rivers like the Kosi.