Nepal's political situation responsible for flood: Modi

Bihar deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today said the internal political situation of Nepal was a major cause behind the breaches on the Kosi embankment near Kushaha on August 18, leading to catastrophic flood in north Bihar. Mr Modi told mediapersons here that despite best efforts by the Bihar government, engineers and other technical personnel were not allowed by the anti-social elements in Nepal to carry out the flood protection works on the embankment.

''When Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar talked to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and sought his help for getting administrative support from the Nepal government to carry out flood protection works on the embankment, the latter said it was impossible as there was virtually no government in Nepal to take decision,'' Mr Modi said.

''Anti-social elements near Kushaha in Nepal had even assaulted our engineers who were sent to supervise the maintenance works of Kosi embankment,'' he said adding 14,400 empty cement bags were pilfered and BA wire crates were damaged at the site on August 16.

''As there was virtually no government in Nepal, no political will was visible on other side of the border to sternly deal with criminals adamant on creating hurdle in carrying out the flood protection works on Indo-Kosi embankment in Nepal,'' Mr Modi maintained. Reacting to Union Minister of State for Water Resources Jai Prakash Narain Yadav's allegation that the catastrophic floods in North Bihar was result of the failure of Nitish Kumar government, Mr Modi said Mr Yadav should explain what steps were taken by him, in this regard, as a Union minister during the last four years.

-- (UNI) -- 06CA27.xml

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