Flood situation not alarming in Bihar: Minister

The Bihar government said today that notwitstanding discharge of water from Nepal in various bordering rivers the flood situation was not "alarming" in the state.

But, the state government has taken up anti-erosion and other flood protection work as a preventive measure, Water Resources Department Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh told reporters here.

"There is no alarming situation in the state so far (with regard to flood situation)," the minister said.

Talking about the water discharge in various bordering rivers from Nepal side, Singh said 1,38,515 cusecs of water was discharged at Birpur barrage in Kosi river while the discharge at Valmikinagar barrage in Gandak river was 1,09,000 and it was 38,584 cusecs in river Sone.

The department has also identified super sensitive and sensitive areas/places which may be affected by the floods, the minister said adding materials have been stored to meet eventuality.

The super sensitive areas fall in the districts of Katihar, Samastipur, Patna, Supaul, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Gopalganj and Muzaffarpur, he said.

The department has decided to reward engineers whose performance will be found to be good, he said.

The department has carried out 423 schemes of anti-erosion and flood protection work at a cost of Rs 1250.44 crore this year, Singh said.

The department has also prepared a scheme worth Rs 1893 crore for the development of "Taal" area (Mokama Taal area in Patna district), the minister said adding that the scheme would be finalised after taking the feedback from local people.

"We will submit the Rs 1893 crore scheme to the Central government by August 15," principal secretary Arun Kumar Singh said.