Small and big dams and big embankments were constructed in this region, without understanding the nature of the rivers which have always changed course or overshot their banks. Assuming however, that the river will not change course, the Government adopted a skewed development program - that of building embankments to contain the river. Today, we have realised that these embankments instead of controlling floods, have only caused greater harm.

The article was written first in 2004, and republished again in 2008 after the Bihar floods.

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