Saptakoshi High Dam

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Saptakosi High Dam, also called Koshi High Dam, is a multipurpose project proposed to be constructed on the Saptakoshi River of Nepal. The project is primarily aimed to control floods in south-east Nepal and northern Bihar of India, and to generate hydro power. [1] An issue subsequently coming with this project is Nepal’s access to sea port via 165 km long navigation canal linking to Calcutta sea port through River Ganges. [2]

Contents

After catastrophe (Koshi changing course breaking the embankments [3] ) by erosion of embankments Koshi Barrage in 2008 [4] and the 52 year old barrage's decaying life has given additional pressure to both governments [5] for thinking about its alternative.

Both governments of India and Nepal have begun studies for the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) of the Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme. A Joint Project Office (JPO) was set up in Nepal for investigation of the project [6] in August 2004.

Background

Koshi High Dam is a project that was studied, surveyed and revised by various authorities from centuries. In the history there were many notable heavy floods on Koshi river killing thousands and displacing millions people. To prevent losses first survey was conducted by British India Major J Renal in around 1779. Subsequently James Fargusan studied in 1863 and later A.F. Ceiling Field studied Koshi flood. British authority has reached to a decision of constructing embankments after the devastating flood of 1869-70. [7]

British made an agreement with Rana rulers of Nepal to construct dam in Sunsari and Saptari districts of Nepal but the project failed after the flood of May 1891. On 27 February 1897 Prime Minister Bir Shamsher Rana approved British India to construct a dam below Barahachhetra. Again in 1944 an American company studied for the British which suggested to construct dam in Churiya range. Following it a commission headed by Rayabahadur Ayodhyanath Khosala studied Koshi on ground in January 1946. He suggested to construct dam 1.6 Kilometer upstream from Barahakshetra area. [8]

After independence India Government formed commission headed by engineer S.P.Prasad which suggested to construct 25.91 meter high dam in Prasad which ended up with Koshi Agreement 25 April 1954 [9] [10] and amended in 1966. Following the agreement India constructed the present Koshi Barrage (completed 24 April 1965) [11]

Construction of Koshi Barrage gave a great relief to people in Bihar for long time but even it couldn't solve the problem. Concept of Saptakoshi High Dam was reinstated after Indian P.M. Atal Bihari Vajpayee introduced Indian Rivers Inter-link project in 2005. Sapta Koshi River is one of the major tributary branch of the Ganges river system that originates from the Himalaya and meets Ganga at Bihar. Koshi causes floods in Nepal and India every year. A big landmass of Bihar is affected by Koshi flood every year. Therefore Koshi is known as ‘sorrow of Bihar’ [12]

Criticism

From the very beginning, the project has been criticized. The main issue raised against the ambitious project is its environmental and social impact. As currently outlined, the dam would displace over 75,000 people from the land covered by the dam.

See also

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The Kosi or Koshi is a transboundary river which flows through China, Nepal and India. It drains the northern slopes of the Himalayas in Tibet and the southern slopes in Nepal. From a major confluence of tributaries north of the Chatra Gorge onwards, the Kosi River is also known as Saptakoshi for its seven upper tributaries. These include the Tamur River originating from the Kanchenjunga area in the east and Arun River and Sun Kosi from Tibet. The Sun Koshi's tributaries from east to west are Dudh Koshi, Likhu Khola, Tamakoshi River, Bhote Koshi, and Indravati. The Saptakoshi crosses into northern Bihar, India where it branches into distributaries before joining the Ganges near Kursela in Katihar district. Kosi is the 3rd largest tributary of the Ganges by water discharge after Ghaghra and Yamuna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhotekoshi River</span> River in Nepal

Bhote Koshi in Nepal and Poiqu in Tibet, both names roughly mean "Tibetan river," is the name given to the upper course of the Sun Kosi river. It is part of the Koshi River system in Nepal.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Bihar flood</span> Devastating flood in Bihar, India

The 2008 Bihar flood was one of the most disastrous floods in the history of Bihar, an impoverished and densely populated state in India. The Koshi embankment near the Indo-Nepal border broke on 18 August 2008. The river changed course and flooded areas which had not been flooded in many decades. The flood affected over 2.3 million people in the northern part of Bihar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koshi Barrage</span> Barrage in Bhimnagar, Nepal

The Koshi Barrage is a sluice across the Koshi river that carries vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic between Saptari district and Sunsari district of Nepal. It is near the International border with India. It was built between 1958 and 1962 and has 56 gates. It was constructed after the Koshi Agreement was signed between the Government of Nepal and India on April 25, 1954. The barrage was designed and built by Joseph and Company Limited, India. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is roughly 3–4 miles north of the barrage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floods in Bihar</span>

Bihar is India's most flood-prone state, with 76% of population in the North Bihar living under the recurring threat of flood devastation. Bihar makes up 16.5% of India's flood affected area and 22.1% of India's flood affected population. About 73.06% of Bihar's geographical area, i.e. 68,800 square kilometres (26,600 sq mi) out of 94,160 square kilometres (36,360 sq mi), is flood affected. On an annual basis, they destroy thousands of human lives apart from livestock and assets worth millions. In total, they have claimed 9,500 lives since the government started publishing figures in 1979. North Bihar districts are vulnerable to at least five major flood-causing rivers during monsoon – Mahananda River, Koshi River, Bagmati River, Burhi Gandak River and Gandak – which originate in Nepal. Some south Bihar districts have also become vulnerable to floods from Son, Punpun and Phalgu rivers. The 2013 flood affected over 5.9 million people in 3,768 villages in 20 districts of the state. 2017 flood affected 19 districts of North Bihar killing 514 people and affecting 1.71 crore people.

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The Indravati River in Nepal is a tributary of the Sun Koshi River. It used to be called "Melamchi" or "Melamchu" until the 19th century.

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Kunauli is a town located in the Supaul district of Bihar, India on the border of Nepal's Saptari District.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barahakshetra Municipality</span> Municipality in Koshi Province, Nepal

Barahakshetra Municipality is a newly formed municipality located in Sunsari District of Koshi Province in Nepal. The area of the municipality is 222 km2 and according to 2011 Census of Nepal the population of the municipality is 77,604 Barahakshetra is a famous pilgrimage site that remains inside Barahakshetra Municipality. Also saptakoshi River flows inside the Municipality.

References

  1. Sing, Praveen (2008). "The colonial state, zamindars and the politics of flood control in north Bihar (1850–1945)" (PDF). Indian Economic and Social History Review. 45 (239). Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  2. Thapa, AB (1 March 2004). "KOSHI FLOODS". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  3. "Embankments chief cause of Koshi misery, says report". The Times of India. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  4. "Multi-Agency Flood Impact Assessment Koshi River Flood – Nepal" (PDF). Food Security Monitoring and Analysis Unit of WFP Nepal. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  5. Adhikary, Dhruba (5 September 2008). "For Prachanda, a tale of two cities", Asia Times. Retrieved on 29 September 2008.
  6. "INDIA-NEPAL COOPERATION". Government of India, Ministry of Water Resources. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  7. Bhandari, Ratan (15 September 2017). "Samadhan hoina uchha bandh" [High dam is not solution] (in Nepali). Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  8. Bhandari, Ratan (15 September 2017). "Samadhan hoina uchha bandh" [High dam is not solution] (in Nepali). Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  9. "Sorrow of Bihar". egov.eletsonline.com. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  10. "Koshi Agreement between India and Nepal" (PDF). Indian Embassy, Nepal. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  11. Bhandari, Ratan (15 September 2017). "Samadhan hoina uchha bandh" [High dam is not solution] (in Nepali). Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  12. Rasul, Golam (2015). "Water for growth and development in the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna basins: An economic perspective". International Journal of River Basin Management. 13 (3): 387–400. doi: 10.1080/15715124.2015.1012518 .