India – Nepal flood management

The background: some of Nepal’s biggest river systems originate in the Himalayan glaciers which then flow into India through Bihar. During the monsoons, these river systems flood causing many problems for Bihar. It is a necessity that there is process-driven coordination between the Centre and the Government of Bihar to handle the flooding in Nepal’s Terai and North Bihar (largely the Mithilanchal region).

Flood issue in Bihar

• Historically, Bihar has been known to be India’s most flood-prone State. Around 73% of the total land area in Bihar is flood affected. 76% of the population in North Bihar faces the recurring threat of floods.
• A large part of North Bihar, adjoining Nepal, is drained by a number of rivers having their catchments in the steep and geologically nascent Himalayas. Originating in Nepal, the high discharge and sediment load in these rivers wreak havoc in the plains of Nepal’s Tarai and Bihar.
• The plains of North Bihar have recorded the highest number of floods in the last 30-years.
• The total area affected by floods has also increased over the years.

India – Nepal water cooperation

• The history of cooperation between India and Nepal for embankments started in the 1950s.
• As part of the long-term measures to address the problem of massive and recurrent floods in Bihar, the Joint Project Office (JPO), Biratnagar, was established in Nepal in August 2004 to prepare a detailed project report to construct a high dam on the Nepal side (on the Kosi, Kamla and Bagmati rivers). However, the task remains unaccomplished even after 17 years.
• Flood protection work : As in the existing India-Nepal Agreement on water resources, the State government is authorized to execute flood protection works up to critical stretches inside Nepal territory along the India-Nepal border.
• However, in recent years, Kathmandu shows indifference to matters of floods and water management. Consequently, not much has happened, except the use of water resources for hydroelectric generation.

Way forward

• In the best spirit of friendship, Nepal and India should restart the water dialogue and come up with policies to safeguard the interests of all those who have been affected on both sides of the border.
• A dedicated intergovernmental panel should be formed through a bilateral mechanism.