The document can be downloaded as a PDF here (Hindi): Kosi rehabilitation policy document

Kosi disaster: The rehabilitation & reconstruction policy

Kosi, tributary of the Ganga is a trans-boundary river that flows between Nepal and India with a catchment area of around 69300 square kilometers. It is a perennial river. Each year due to the silt flowing into the Kosi River, level of its banks are rising.

Vast swathes of north Bihar was flooded this year after water from river Kosi swamped the area following a breach in the embankment at Kusaha in Nepal on August 18. A breach at a distance of 12 meters form the Kosi Barrage in Eastern Dam on the same day resulted in the river taking a new route. River flow along the new route damaged housing, schools, roads, farms, livestock & caused heavy loss of life.

The Government of Bihar on 9th Nov. gave its approval to the Kosi Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Policy 2008 to pave the way for a formal beginning to reconstruction work in flood affected areas of all six districts of the eastern Indian state.

The Rs 14,808.95-crore multi-purpose Kosi Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Policy 2008 is aimed at providing means of livelihood, community facilities and reconstructing the houses of those displaced by the severe flood.

The objective of the policy is to rehabilitate and reconstruct the devastated areas of the flood affected districts, besides channelizing the funds donated to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for proper utilization.

It would also simplify the procedural wrangles and complicacy of rules with respect to sanction and execution of schemes.

The state cabinet cleared the policy which would be implemented by money from Calamity Relief Fund and various other components of Central and state schemes.

For the successful implementation of the policy, the state would go for multilateral funding besides involving the private sector and Non-Government Organizations (NGO)

Main features of the program are :

• Housing construction
• Removal of the residuals
• Construction of temporary shelters
• Construction of permanent houses
• Reconstruction of community buildings and staff quarters etc
• The creation of livelihood programs
• Infrastructure - physical and social
• Social and Community Development
• Reconstruction of Primary Health Center / Hospital / Healthcare facilities
• Reconstruction of Warehouse / Anganwadi Centers
• Reconstruction of Primary and Secondary schools
• Reconstruction of Higher education and Technical institutions
• Reconstruction of Monuments & Heritage centers

Some criteria are:

• Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies in Partnership
• Women's empowerment
• The provision of social participation and social audit
• Buffer technology risk
• Institutional system for monitoring the progress of implementation
• Social participation etc.