Reclaiming Kosi from Myopic Engineers & Contractors

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Gopal Krishna,

First thing first. Remember what was said by the former CBI Director, Sri Jogindar Singh a little over two years ago. A human has 32 joints in his spine. A Govt. employee loses one each year. So by the time he reaches his superannuation no spine is left. Sri NK Singh was not only an employee but a super employee. As long as he was in service he did 'Yes Minister' or 'Yes Sir/ M,m'. I find such creatures in post -retirement era to be very busy either with some NGO or on an extended job in the Govt. which gives them a position to finish whatever backbone the country is left with. I find no body retiring in Jharkhand. All ex-Chief Secy./DGPs are their in position with red light facilities etc.

I do not understand what was left for Sri NK Singh to do now what he could not do in 35 years of service. And where were his great ideas about the country and Bihar when he was in position including on KOSI? All his patriotism has become visible now. Therefore, what ever he says now is meaningless. No body gets benefitted by his write ups now. 

In view of this, I do not open any link or write up related to many of the ex-bureaucrats.  

With regard to Kosi dam/ embankments and other rivers in North Bihar. Where was Sri NK Singh when the declared life span of 35 years of Kosi embankment was over in 1988. It looks like he was waiting for KOSI 2008 to happen to give his opinion. 

In one sentence " Even a child could have said without his mathematical tool that 'with the amount of muck flowing through the Kosi from upstream the dam was to have shorter and dangerous life for the people downstream and so no dam/ embankment was to be built at all. Naturally such a project was taken for wise money makers, mafias and contractors to inflate their deposits and party funds.

vns      

2009/11/14 Gopal Krishna <krishnagreen

Reclaiming Kosi from Myopic Engineers & Contractors It appears that N K Singh, a Member of Rajya Sabha from Bihar lives in a time warp. He says, " The political parties in the State failed to

secure meaningful arrangements with Nepal for better harnessing its

river and hydro electric potential. The Kosi and Gandak embankment, the

result of international treaty with Nepal, did bring significant relief

to a large population in North Bihar from the vulnerabilities of floods

but could not convert these transitional arrangements to permanent

solutions. These temporary structures have long outlived their expected

life span, and in any case they were designed to be transitional

arrangement to be followed by taming these rivers upstream to harness

the irrigation and hydel potential. These remained unimplemented.

Durable infrastructure wasn't created to withstand the destruction due

to periodic floods and other vulnerabilities. "

 

He remains obvlivious of the fact that Kosi basin's crisis is one of the most under-rated environmental

disasters of Asia. The Kosi treaty between India and Nepal was/is

a historical blunder. It provides the basis for misplaced structural

interventions in the Kosi basin. The treaty must be re-visited and must

adopt a river basin approach. Kosi,

a major tributary of Ganga, a Himalayan river that carries the

heavy load of sediment therefore, it is a mistake to build any barrage,

dams and embankments on it. Projects like Kosi High Dam and

interlinking of rivers are ecologically and socially disastrous is being promoted as the panacea of all ills by Bihar government and APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India. Fortunately, the central government seems to have realized that interlinking of rivers is fraught with catastrophic consequences and distanced itself from it.

Unmindful of the havoc caused by

embankments, the " Government of India is also providing assistance to

Nepal for strengthening of existing and construction of new embankments

along Kamala, Bagmati, Lalbakeya, Sunsari, Trijuga, Lakhadehi and

Kankai rivers. The detailed project report for strengthening of

embankments along Khando river is under consideration. The design and

implementation of these schemes is carried out by the agencies of the

Government of Nepal. " The  hydro engineering experiments being undertaken with political

consensus of sort has turned citizens of North Bihar and Nepal into

guinea pigs. It is such experiments which eventually make migrants out

of Biharis and Nepalis who face humiliation and assault all over the

country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Refusing to learn anything from

past mistakes the embankments are still being built or repaired in Kosi

and Bagmati by the governments. Kosi flood disaster of 2008 was spread over 5 districts,

35 blocks, 993 villages affecting 33.29 lakh people and spread over an

area of 3.68 lakh hectares in India alone which resulted in loss of

nearly 600 persons and destruction of 2.37 lakh houses. And nearly 1.5

million people spread over 414 villages trapped between the two

embankments of the Kosi which is the route of the normal river flow in

a normal year. There is no reason to believe that similar crisis be

witnessed this year too.The National Common Minimum

Programme (CMP) of the Congress-RJD-LJP led Central Government had made a

solemn pledge to the people of the country in 2004 to undertake

“Long-pending schemes in specific states that have national

significance, like flood control and drainage in North Bihar.†Despite

acknowledging the problem, it is shocking that neither the Central nor

Bihar Government conducts any survey to assess the effect of flood

control measures on the socio-economic conditions of society and

chooses to ensure that status quo is manitained to safeguard the

inhuman selfish interests of contractors in repair and construction.Rashtriya

Barh Ayog (National Flood Commission) was constituted in 1976 to evolve

a coordinated, integrated and scientific approach to the flood control

problems in the country and to draw out a national plan fixing

priorities for implementation in the future. Its report was submitted

in 1980 and accepted by Government but the implementation of its

recommendations did not happen. Union Ministry of Water Resources set

up an Expert Committee to review the Implementation of recommendations

of Rashtriya Barh Ayog (RBA) in October. The Committee identified the

bottlenecks faced by the state government in its implementation and

suggested measures for implementation of RBA recommendations for

effective Flood Management in the country. Despite 207

recommendations of the National Flood Commission, it is clear that the

frequency and intensity of floods has grown in the country over the

years primarily because of the increased encroachment of flood plains.

It is clear that none of the recommendations have been acted upon. On August 19, 2008,

the chairman of this Expert Committee on the Implementation of

recommendations of Rashtriya Barh Ayog (1980 report) said, “It is my

impression that not much has been done to implement the suggestions

made by the committee’s report.†After the Kusaha breach, a Commission of Inquiry was constituted by the Government of Bihar under the chairmanship of

Justice Rajesh Balia to enquire into the causes of breach in the

Eastern Kosi Afflux Bund on 18th August 2008 so as to prevent

occurrence of such disaster in future as if the same is not clear from

the reports of the previous Commissions, Committees and Task Forces. Does anyone know as to what happened to the report of the Justice Balia Commission on Kosi?. While one awaits its report, it would be appropriate for the Bihar government to come out with a white paper on Kosi basin.

The 'National' Ganga River Basin Authority, although

so far it seems to confine itself to Indian side of the Ganga basin,

must expand its ambit and undertake a rogorous environmental assessment

of Kosi basin to assess the

damage done to it by the engineers who acted under tremendous political

pressure against even their own engineering wisdom. The assessment would help comprehend ways to restore natural flooding and damaged land scape. Gopal KrishnaThe future of Bihar

NK Singh

 

 

The

economic backwardness of Bihar remains an enigma. Historians recall the

great heights of culture, development and the territorial sweep of the

erstwhile Maurya and Gupta period, who ruled from Patliputra, the

present day capital of Bihar. Those engaged in the reconstruction of

Nalanda University recognise the intellectual and educational

pre-eminence of that University located in this State from the 3rd

century to the 12th century AD.  Lately, however, many have

described Bihar as quicksand which draws you in with inevitability.

Bihar suggests awkward complexities which have no easy answer. It is

true that Bihar remains a land of riches inhabited mostly by poor

people. Biharis may be rich but Bihar is poor. Biharis, who migrate out

of the city, excel in the profession they persue. But, back home it

makes no dent on the backwardness of the State. The large Gangetic

plain with its fertile soil, abundant water resources available from a

multitude of rivers that flow through the region and the potential of

the hardworking people of the state are of no avail. Soon

after Independence, during the 1950s, the administration of Bihar was

assessed as one of the best in the country by Paul Appleby. But owing

to its prolonged poor governance and stratified social order, the

State, now, has come to be referred as the �prosperous poor�. For last

few decades, the State was mentioned in two topics of discussion -

politics and poverty. Not, the �poverty of politics�, rather the

politics with poverty. In recent years, subjects relating to the

development challenges of Bihar had been acrimoniously debated. Bihar

was increasingly considered a �Basket Case�, with no prospect of a

better future. Recently, there have been concerted efforts to improve

the overall climate of development in the State. This has aroused a

sense of optimism and ushered a glimmer of hope among Biharis. Moreover,

it is imperative to understand why things have come to such an impasse

in Bihar? History can gives us some pointers. Several interrelated

issues -- poor agricultural growth, deindustrialization during the

colonial period, high population growth and migration � have lead to

its long-term decline. These were coupled by poor governance, neglect

by the Central Government, unreliable infrastructure, low energy

availability and poor agricultural yields over a long period. The

result: it has crippled the State, its economy, its society and human

development. Trends in GDP Growth The

table below shows the pattern of Bihar and India�s long-term growth.

There are two distinct growth periods for India and Bihar - Phase I from 1950 to 1980 - Phase II from 1980 to 2005 For

India, Phase I is characterised by slow growth in both absolute and per

capita terms when compared with growth in Phase II. India grew at an

average pace of only 3.6 percent per annum in absolute terms and 1.2

percent in per capita terms in Phase I. However, growth accelerated to

6.0 percent in absolute terms and 4.0 percent in per capita terms in

Phase II. In case of Bihar, the State grew at an average of

around 3 per cent in Phase I, but economic growth worsened in Phase II

vis-�-vis the national average. Within these two broad phases there are

some interesting variations. A look at the table below would indicate

how the trend in Bihar has been since the 1950s in comparison to the

national average.Trend of economic growth in India and Bihar (percent per annum)

 

 

 

 

State/Year

Bihar

India Average

 

1950-60

---

3.9

 

1960-70

2.3

3.7

 

1970-80

3.1

3.1

 

1980-90

4.8

5.6

 

1990-2000

3.6

5.7

 

2000-2003

0.2

6.0

 

 

 

The gist To sum up, there are five factors leading to endemic economic backwardness of Bihar:1.

In the post-independence period, the policy of freight equalisation did

not enable Bihar to derive the advantage of its rich mineral resources

as well as a large growing market. This policy which remained effective

from 1952 to 1993 had serious repercussions in neutralising Bihar�s

comparative factor advantage.2. Notwithstanding Bihar�s

considerable clout in the Central Government, central investments,

(except by Public Sector Undertakings in what is now Jharkhand), there

was little investment North of the Ganges or in the drought-prone areas

in the South of Bihar.3. The failure to break away from the

past in implementing tenurial land reform changes resulted in excessive

social stratification which prevented both vertical and horizontal

mobility. Excessive preoccupation with caste and even communal factors

dominated political discourse. Successive Governments were not held

accountable on indices of improvement in life quality and other

developmental indicators either in the overall growth achievement or

performance of Index of Human Resource Development. 4. The

failure to transit from a feudal-based economy to a market-oriented

economy emphasised value systems which did not facilitate rapid

economic development. This coupled with poor quality of infrastructure,

social indicators and governance quality did not enable the State to

attract meaningful private investment even in areas of its comparative

factor advantage. Poor governance also resulted in decline of education

and health.5. The political parties in the State failed to

secure meaningful arrangements with Nepal for better harnessing its

river and hydro electric potential. The Kosi and Gandak embankment, the

result of international treaty with Nepal, did bring significant relief

to a large population in North Bihar from the vulnerabilities of floods

but could not convert these transitional arrangements to permanent

solutions. These temporary structures have long outlived their expected

life span, and in any case they were designed to be transitional

arrangement to be followed by taming these rivers upstream to harness

the irrigation and hydel potential. These remained unimplemented.

Durable infrastructure wasn't created to withstand the destruction due

to periodic floods and other vulnerabilities.During the last four years, the initiatives taken by the Nitish Kumar Government have concentrated on six factors.- Improved Governance- Macro Management

- Human Resources Development- Emphasis on factor endowments- Enactment of key legislations to improve climate for private investments. - Improvement of Infrastructure.  The future of Bihar would depend on five key variables.

1.

To what extent fiscal federalism works in a manner which is in line

with the spirit of the constitution? This concerns four components.   The

compensatory additional central investment in a State considering that

in the near future private investment will remain shy. To what

extent will the State be enabled to take fuller advantage of Central

investments already made, namely a higher percentage of allocation from

Central power projects? The present agreements are discriminatory and

unequal. These agreements do not enable the State to secure a fair

percentage of the energy produced in the State.   Permitting

the development of downstream industries from existing Central

investment, say from the Barauni refinery as well as other investments

which may be in the offing.  A degree of fairness in access

to raw material inputs like coal for new power generating companies

necessary to meet the energy deficiency in the State.2. The

State has to succeed in harnessing its rich water potential through the

optimum utilisation of resources and adoption of new technology. It�ll

prove their comparative factor advantage in agriculture. The extent to

which agricultural productivity can be enhanced by diversified

agriculture practices, creating and implementing an enabling policy

framework.      There is also a broader issue of mitigation

and adaptation to Global Warming and Climate Change. Does it make sense

for planners in India to pursue,  say water intensive cultivation in

other parts of India which are water deficient than say North Bihar,

where water is abundant?  What special assistance can be given for

enabling Bihar to become the food granary of India?  In Punjab

water aquifers have fallen significantly and rice production may become

increasingly more expensive. This is an opportunity for Bihar to

enhance both the production and productivity of its agriculture even as

further research and development is needed to develop strains and

cropping patterns which better factor the consequences of global

warming.3. To what extent can its very young population be

harnessed and vocational skills imparted to create the �Missing

Middle�. This entails increasing urbanization very significantly

through many more satellite towns and skill inculcation programme which

can provide gainful employment activities outside agriculture sector,

even while agriculture can gain advantages of externalities in scale

instead of an exclusive reliance on agricultural produces.   4.

To what extent can Bihar leverage its political power to create an

enabling international framework on sharing our river basins,

particularly with Nepal for generating irrigation and hydel potential

to optimise the resources of this region.5. The issue of

whether Bihar can rewrite its history, and foster new green shoots of

investments, employment and diversification in its activity patterns?  All

these, of course require continued good governance and stable policy

framework and institutions which can incentivise private investment.Is there a future for Bihar? I

remain optimist because given continued good governance; its

demographic advantage, and improving agricultural productivity can make

Bihar the granary of India and also an educational hub. The

State is now getting its act together. Continuity and stability of good

governance will enable a speedy transit from feudal to a market-based

economy. Improved prospects for the future kindles hope and while

breaking down social stratification will enable leap frogging the

typology of growth to more rapidly developing economies. The

restoration of Bihar�s lost glory will demonstrate the success of

strategic initiatives and technology can do to one of the most backward

and densely populated regions in India. Unless backward States become

growth drivers, India would find it difficult to grow at 9 per cent. In

some ways the future of India is linked with the future of Bihar. Bihar

has demonstrated that it would not allow its future to become a hostage

of the past and to shape the future in consonance with its rich

historical, cultural and economic leadership.Nov 13, 2009 The author, NK Singh is a Member of Rajya Sabha, Government of India.Source: Moneycontrol.com

 

 

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