In April & June, Centre reminded Bihar of Kosi’s unfinished work

In two pre-flood bulletins issued on August 16 and August 17, the Department said: “Jal Sansadhan vibhag ke antargat sabhi tatbandh surakshit hain (All embankments...are safe).”

On August 18, the Kosi smashed the embankment at Kusaha in Nepal, supposed to have been repaired and maintained by the Bihar government. But records show that the Centre, which reimburses Bihar’s cost on the works, repeatedly wanted to know from the state what preventive action was being taken on the Kosi in Nepal.

On April 1, the Patna-based Director (Coordination) of the Ganga Flood Control Commission— a body under the Union Ministry of Water Resources— wrote to the Engineer-in-Chief (North) of Bihar’s Water Resources Department. The letter clearly asks the state to specify what is being done “on river Kosi in Nepal portion based on the recommendations of Kosi High Level Committee for the protection works to be executed before the floods of 2008.” And that it send a report “immediately to this office for taking necessary action.”

Union Minister of State for Water Resources Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav says the Bihar Government did not reply to any letter.

Bihar Water Resources Minister Bijeyndra Yadav acknowledged that no schedule of repairs or estimates of costs was submitted to the Centre. “Kal bhej rahe hain (We are sending it tomorrow),” he told The Indian Express over the phone. He said that “anti-erosion work” was done.

Sources said local people chased away state engineers when they went to repair the breach on August 18, saying they would not now be allowed to do something they should have done earlier.