Severe Issue of Floods and Erosion in Bihar Echoes in Rajya Sabha: MP Dr. Dharmshila Gupta Highlights Problem of Water Flow and Silt from Rivers Originating in Nepal
New Delhi / Patna: One of the largest and most ferocious natural calamities facing Bihar was raised emphatically in the country's highest legislative house, the Rajya Sabha. Honorable Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Dr. Dharmshila Gupta, hailing from Bihar, drew the central government's attention toward the grave and perennial problem of severe floods and river erosion plaguing the state every year during the parliamentary session. The MP informed the House that due to excessive water flow and massive deposits of silt carried by rivers originating from Nepal, several districts of Bihar are forced to endure devastating conditions annually. This flood crisis is growing increasingly terrifying year after year, submerging hundreds of villages and compelling millions of displaced individuals to seek refuge in relief camps. This critical discussion in Parliament has once again underscored the urgent necessity for long-term flood management at both central and state levels.
The Flood Crisis in Bihar: Rivers Originating in Nepal and the Silt Threat
Bihar is often referred to as the 'cradle of rivers', with numerous prominent waterways flowing downward from the north and entering from Nepal. Dr. Dharmshila Gupta highlighted this geographical reality and its adverse consequences during her address.
Havoc Wrought by Rivers from Nepal: When rivers such as the Kosi, Gandak, Bagmati, Kamala, and Abarar enter the plains of Bihar from Nepal with torrential force, they carry massive volumes of water. This sudden surge in water levels places immense pressure on embankments.
Accumulation of Silt and Declining River Depths: The MP specifically emphasized that silt has continuously accumulated at the riverbeds of these water bodies over many years, drastically reducing their water-carrying capacity. Even a slight excess of water causes these rivers to breach their designated paths and unleash devastation across residential areas and fertile agricultural lands.
Annual Devastation: Submerged Villages and the Tale of Relief Camps
During the monsoon season, multiple districts in northern and northeastern Bihar—such as Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, and the Kosi-Seemanchal belt—fall victim to watery cataclysms.
Displacement of Millions: Because floods assume terrifying proportions every year, standing crops across thousands of acres are destroyed, leaving millions of rural families homeless. People are forced to abandon their homes and seek shelter on elevated ground or in government relief camps.
Destruction Wrought by Erosion: The aggressive erosion caused by rivers alongside floods proves even more catastrophic. Rivers swallow up fertile lands, concrete houses, and roads overnight, driving rural families into utter destitution.
Key Demands and Suggestions by MP Dr. Dharmshila Gupta
Raising this critical issue in the Rajya Sabha, MP Dr. Dharmshila Gupta urged the central government to take war-footing and internationally coordinated steps to find a permanent solution to this crisis. Her primary points included:
High-Level Water Diplomacy with Nepal: Since the source of these rivers lies in Nepal, the central government should collaborate with Nepal to develop a permanent water commission or mechanism to manage water flow and control floods proactively.
Silt Management Policy: A comprehensive national policy should be framed for desilting riverbeds to enhance river depths and ensure the smooth passage of water.
Construction and Maintenance of Robust Embankments: Aging and dilapidated embankments in Bihar should be upgraded and modernized on schedule to eliminate the risk of breaches during floods.
Prompt Rehabilitation for Flood Victims: Families affected by floods and erosion every year must be provided with timely, appropriate compensation and permanent rehabilitation facilities.
Raising the issue of floods and erosion in Bihar on a national platform by Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Dharmshila Gupta is a commendable and timely step. This is not merely a state-specific problem; rather, it is a major issue tied to national disaster management. Unless a concrete, scientific, and permanent solution to the water flow and silt problems of rivers coming from Nepal is discovered, millions of people in Bihar will continue to face this natural calamity year after year. What is required is for the central and state governments to formulate a visionary action plan to transform these water channels—often termed the 'Sorrow of Bihar'—into a blessing.
