Bihar Flood........

BIHAR FLOOD CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT Large areas of Bihar and Nepal were flooded due to break of embankment on Kosi River on 18 August. 36 lakhs people of Bihar and one lakh people of Nepal got affected due to this flood. More than four lakhs houses collapsed. Thousands of domestic animals died and crops of Rs. 150 crore got destroyed. It is obvious that a large number of people have also died due to this flood however; no such accurate data is available. The people who got ruined due to this flood are small farmer, farm laborer and other working class people. Low level politics of power hungry politicians on this flood are continuing. Flood is just an issue for them. These politicians are blaming each other and claim themselves to be best in relief works. Series of scams in relief funds is yet to start. Central and Bihar state government is responsible for destruction of life of 36 lakhs people of Bihar. It is a criminal act committed by central and state government. Governments and its departments are directly responsible for the loss of life due to flood in Kosi River. Flow of water was 1 lakh 44 thousand cusec on 18th August 2008, when 400 meter embankment on Kosi River cracked. However, the capacity of embankment is 9 lakhs 50 thousand cusec. Break in Kosi embankment on 90% lower flow of water in comparison to its actual capacity shows that how badly the up keeping of embankment was managed. The repairing and maintenance of Kosi embankments should have been completed before melting of the glaciers. Even in the case of negligence this work should have been completed before the arrival of monsoon in June. But this year this work was not done by July-August even. There are several facts supporting to it. Director of ‘Ganga flood control commission* on 1 April, through a letter, asked for the planning of maintainance from the Engineer-in-chief (north) of Bihar water resource department. The same letter was sent for the first time on 25 April and third time on12 June. Not a single letter was responded. During the monsoons Engineer of Bihar government sends a daily report of embankments to the center. News of embankment on 16 August was, ‘All the embankments under Bihar water resources department are safe.’ The same news was repeated on 17 August. News for 18 august is well known by the whole country. Embankment broke off. It is gross negligence of different departments of Indian government. No action is being taken against responsible officers and departments even after repeated 8th incident of breaking of Kosi embankment. Water resource department, Ganga Flood Control Commission, Kosi High Level committee etc. are culprit of loss of life and property of people of Bihar. The flood is not a natural disaster or curse of ‘Mother Kosi’, this is result of gross negligence of state and central government. It is a manifold bigger crime than the crime of Ansal brothers and Sanjeev Nanda. Governments are shrinking their responsibilities from this criminal negligence. Government machineries and media are also creating confusion by spreading rumors that flood was caused due to releasing of water by Nepal. The truth is that there is no dam on Kosi River in Nepal. And whatever barrages are there are all in control of Government of Bihar. The maintainance responsibilities are also of the government of Bihar.

The criminal negligence of government of India has destroyed life of lakhs of people. In such condition, it is our duty to make pressure on government to prosecute those officers and departments immediately who are responsible for this. It is also our responsibility to help as far as possible to working class of people of Bihar in their hardship. Flood affected people of Bihar have to face lot of difficulties now. However , we can not rely upon corrupt and inefficient government agencies. We all know about the concern for the masses of power hungry politicians. We appeal to all of you to raise your voice against criminal negligence of the government and other responsible persons for the flood and come forward for direct help to flood affected masses of Bihar.

KRANTIKARI LOK ADHIKAR SANGATHAN Pro-people Fortnightly newspaper

Nagarik adhikaron ko samarpit

Is running a flood relief medical camp at Raghopur in Supaul district. Contact for the financial and medicine aid for the camp.

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