Nitish urges PM to open talks with Nepal

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday urged the prime minister to open talks with Nepal for constructing dams on rivers originating from the Himalayan country to end the recurring floods in the state.

In his Independence Day address after unfurling the national tricolour at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna, Kumar also urged for constituting a 'Flood Management Strategy Group' for holding talks with the Nepal Government.

He said apart from construction of high dams, the inter-linking of rivers in Bihar should also be accorded top priority.

Kumar said the inter-linking of rivers flowing down from upper reaches of Nepal to Bihar would lead to lowering the water level of turbulent rivers in spate in the event of heavy rains in their catchment areas.

"The state government was preparing a flood-control plan for inter-linking of rivers but it cannot be executed without the financial support from the Centre," he said.

He suggested that the prime minister should order opening a special cell in the department of economic affairs for smooth fund-flow for execution of the proposed scheme.

The state government had decided to work for construction of earthquake resistant houses in the flood-prone 28 districts of the state, he said.

The state government would require Rs 5,000 crore for construcion of earthquake resistant houses of this year's flood victims, he said.