No objetion if Centre reconstructs Kosi embankment:Vijendra

Patna, Sep 15 (UNI) Bihar Water Resources Minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav today said the state government would have no objection if the Centre decided to take up the reconstruction of the Kosi embankment, which breached at Kushaha in Nepal on August 18 last.

Mr Yadav told newspersons here the breach in the Kosi embankment occurred in Nepal territory and it would be better if the Centre decided to take up the reconstruction works of the same.

'' It is strange to note that Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Minister of State for Water Resources Jai Prakash Narain Yadav continue to hold the Bihar Government responsible without any basis, '' he said adding the state government had already constituted a judicial commission to inquire into the causes leading to breach of the Kosi embankment at Kushaha in Nepal.

Mr Yadav took strong exception to the change in terms of reference of the high power committee, constituted by the Centre on August 29.

On September 14, through another notification of the Centre, the terms of reference were enlarged to incorporate the circumstances leading to the breach of the Kosi embankment, he informed.

The change in terms of reference of the committee constituted by the Centre was in fact made at the instance of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Mr Yadav alleged.

When asked, the Water Resources Minister dismissed the charges levelled against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the failure to protect the Kosi embankment, saying there was nothing new in it.

Meanwhile, in a statement, retired engineer Nilendu Sanyal, also head of the another expert committee constituted by the Bihar Government on the Kosi embankment, said he had never held the state government responsible for the breach in the Kosi embankment at Kushaha.

'' It is not in terms of reference of committee headed by me, '' he said and added that how he could make such statement.

UNI KKS-RS SJC RN1851