India satisfied with Koshi repair works

Kathmandu, June 12 (ANI): India on Thursday said the work carried out by the Indian contractor company commissioned for the reconstruction of flood-breached Koshi embankment is satisfactory.

A joint inspection team headed by Bihar government's Minister for Water Resources Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood expressed satisfaction over the timely completion of the Koshi Breach Closure Works.

According to a press release issued by the Indian Embassy, the high-level joint inspection team appreciated the hard work put in by the team of engineers and the workers, who accomplished this task under very difficult circumstances.

"It was a challenging task to divert the flow of water away from the breach along with recommended protection works within a limited time window available before the onset of next floods," the statement said.

"This was accomplished within this time window through the joint efforts of the Government of India and Government of Nepal despite several hindrance that came in the way in terms of the disruptions and stoppages of work caused by agitations, which continuously threatened to delay the completion of works," it added.

The inspection visit came following news reports that claims of the Indian contractors that the repair works had completed were false.

Tens of thousands of people had been displaced in Morang and Sunsari districts after the breach in the Koshi embankment triggered massive floods last year.

Koshi floods had also displaced Indians of Arariya, Supoul, Baguwan, Basanpur, Dumarwana, Dhurna and other parts of Bihar state that have come to Sunsari and Morang districts.

Under a treaty signed between India and Nepal in 1954, India assumed responsibility for constructing, operating and maintaining the Koshi project for the benefits of controlling floods in monsoon and receiving water for irrigation during winter. However, the Bihar government has been repeatedly drawing flak in Nepal over shoddy maintenance while India claims Nepal's government failed to provide security to its inspection teams. (ANI)