Nepal obstructs Bihar's flood-prevention works along border

In a move that may have a devastating effect during the monsoon in Bihar, Nepal has allegedly obstructed all works carried out by the state’s water resources department to prevent flooding of its low-lying areas along the India-Nepal border, ANI reported.

According to the report, the neighbouring country has erected barriers to stop the works to repair the 2.5 km-long embankment on Lal Bakey River.

State Water Resources Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha on Monday (June 22) said the government would take the issue to the notice of the Union Ministry of External Affairs and apprise it of the threat posed by the action, the report added.

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“The Gandak barrage in Valmiki Nagar has 36 gates and 18 of those are on Nepal side. They have installed barriers there, which has never happened before,” said Jha, adding that more than 1.5 lakh cusecs water was released from the barrage on June 21. He said the state was in grave danger if the works could not continue.

Earlier, the country had also stopped the works to repair the embankment on Lalbakeya River in the East Champaran district in Bihar. The state had been carrying out fortification work on the embankment every year ahead of the monsoon.

The move comes weeks after the Nepal Parliament cleared a Constitution Amendment Bill that validates the country’s new map which includes some Indian territories. This had escalated tensions between the two countries.

Bihar shares over 700 km-long international border with Nepal. The upcoming monsoon could have a devastating effect on the state due to Nepal’s action as water from the Lal Bakey River could overflow and wipe out all the villages along the border.