Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has written to PM Narendra Modi seeking the Centre to consider demolishing the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal. Nitish wrote to the PM, a day before he met him in Delhi.
FLOOD SITUATION
Apprising the PM about the present flood situation in the state in which 95 lives have been lost, Nitish said that Bihar had suffered immensely because of the floods in the northern and southern parts of the state. Nitish said that at least 28 districts in the state were hit severely by the floods.
FARAKKA DAM ALLEGATION
After holding an emergency meeting with the officials, asserted that floods were caused due to the construction of the Farakka dam in 1975. Nitish alleged that the silt deposition in the Ganga had reduced the depth of the river and therefore, the water was spread across a larger surface area, leading to flooding in a lot of areas.
should review the utility of the Farakka dam. Post the construction of the Farakka dam in 1975, there has been lot of problems. Centre should consider demolishing the dam, Nitish wrote to Modi
Nitish demanded the demolition of the Farakka dam saying it was the only way to protect Bihar from flooding in the future. He had also appealed to the Centre to formulate a National Silt Management Policy, a demand which he has been raising with the Centre for last 10 years.
A LIABILITY
Nitish maintained in the present day scenario, Farakka dam was more of a liability than an asset to the state.
“We should review the utility of the Farakka dam. Post the construction of the Farakka dam in 1975, there has been lot of problems. Centre should consider demolishing the dam, wrote Nitish.
The Bihar CM also demanded the Centre’s assistance for flood hit Bihar to cope with the crisis. He also asked for a team of experts to be sent from the Centre to review the silt deposition in the Ganga and take a final decision on whether the demolition of the Farakka Barrage was necessary to save Bihar from annual flood.
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