Impact of Booming Flood Management Business in Bihar

Eklavya Prasad, Managing Trustee, Megh Pyne Abhiyan

The dichotomy of flood management in North Bihar presents a glaring contradiction between the extensive efforts claimed by authorities and the persistent sufferings of the people. Despite numerous interventions over the years, the data from 2005 to 2024 paints a stark picture of inadequate and inconsistent management, with floods continuing to devastate the state. This article explores the perpetual cycle of flooding in Bihar and the apparent disconnect between flood management practices and policies and their manifestation on the ground.

The data on flood impact in Bihar from 2005 to 2024 presents a detailed view of the scale and extent of the recurring flood disaster. The assessment over these two decades provides insight into the severity, frequency, and fluctuation in the damage caused by flooding.

· In 2005, 12 districts were affected, leading to disruptions across 81 blocks and 562 panchayats, impacting 2.1 million people. The following year, in 2006, the number of affected districts were 14, and the affected population was 1.16 million. The number of panchayats affected was 424. In 2007, the situation worsened significantly, with 22 districts and 269 blocks affected. This resulted in 24.44 million people being impacted. The following year, 2008, 18 districts were affected by floods, affecting 5.09 million people, including the infamous Kosi flood.

· The 2009 floods affected 16 districts and 91 blocks, impacting 2.2 million people. The year 2010 experienced a further reduction in the number of affected districts (9) and a lower population impact of 0.77 million, suggesting an improved situation or reduced flooding intensity during that period. However, this respite was short-lived, as 2011 saw 25 districts and 166 blocks affected, leading to an impacted population of 7.08 million.

· In 2012, the number of districts affected decreased significantly to 11, with a corresponding decrease in the population impacted to 1.32 million. However, the situation escalated once again in 2013, with 20 districts affected, resulting in an impact on 3.5 million people across 126 blocks. This trend continued in 2014, which experienced similar figures, with 20 districts affected and a total impacted population of 3 million.

· A notable dip in flood severity was observed in 2015, when only 8 districts were affected, and the population impact dropped to 0.48 million, with 32 blocks and 94 panchayats affected. However, 2016 marked a drastic escalation, as 31 districts were affected, with 185 blocks and 1408 panchayats affected, leading to an impacted population of 8.78 million. This was one of the most severe years in terms of the number of districts and the population affected.

· The year 2017 also saw significant flood impact, with 22 districts affected and a massive 214 blocks and 2606 panchayats impacted, resulting in 18.5 million people being affected. This sharp rise in the population affected points to the intensity of flooding.

· 2018 witnessed a significant reduction in flood impact, with only 3 districts and 15 blocks affected, leading to an impacted population of 0.15 million. However, this improvement was short-lived, as the following year, 2019, saw an increase to 27 districts, 233 blocks, and 2130 panchayats affected, impacting 14.9 million people. This sharp rise in 2019 highlights the challenges in implementing effective flood management measures and the recurring nature of the problem.

· In 2020, 19 districts were affected, impacting 15.8 million people across 152 blocks and 1402 panchayats. This demonstrates the widespread nature of floods and their impact on the population. The year 2021, 32 districts were affected, 295 blocks, and 2865 panchayats impacted, affecting a total population of 8.85 million.

· In 2022, 17 districts were affected, with 67 blocks and 346 panchayats impacted, leading to an affected population of 0.45 million. The year 2023 saw 6 districts, 14 blocks, and 82 panchayats affected, impacting a population of 0.18 million.

· As of October 3, 2024, 19 districts have been affected, and 601 panchayats have been impacted, with a population impact of 3.62 million. However, the number of affected blocks is not provided, which makes it difficult to assess the complete impact for 2024.

Overall, from 2005 to 2024, floods in Bihar have impacted 351 districts, 2308 blocks, 21527 panchayats, and 118.77 million people. The data shows significant year-to-year fluctuations in the number of affected districts, blocks, panchayats, and population, indicating that while certain years witnessed effective flood management, others saw widespread devastation. The persistent pattern of flooding highlights the recurring vulnerabilities in Bihar and the lack of sustainable, long-term solutions to mitigate the impact of floods on communities. It underscores the need for comprehensive, community-based, and non-structural flood management solutions, rather than relying primarily on infrastructure-based approaches that may only provide temporary relief.

A deeper analysis reveals some alarming trends. For instance, in 2016, 31 districts were affected, impacting over 8.78 million people. The subsequent year, 2017, saw the most extensive impact on panchayats, with 2606 panchayats affected across 22 districts, resulting in 18.5 million people being affected, the second highest population impact recorded between 2005-2024 (till October 3, 2024). These figures reflect a trend of increasing vulnerabilities and challenges that are not being effectively managed. Moreover, the data reveals fluctuating severity in the impact of floods. This inconsistency suggests that all progress made in managing floods has not been adequately implemented to prevent future occurrences.

These staggering numbers underscore the magnitude of suffering that the residents of Bihar endure year after year. Despite a series of flood control programs, largely embankment constructions, the impact of floods remains widespread and severe. The lack of contextual, effective, and sustainable flood management practices and policies is evident in the numbers, as there seems to be little progress in alleviating the burden on affected communities.

Flood management in Bihar has predominantly focused on constructing embankments and other structural measures. However, these measures are often poorly planned, leading to breaches and exacerbating flooding in certain areas. The over-reliance on embankments, without incorporating non-structural solutions, has further complicated flood management. Promoting embankments as the primary tool, combined with inadequate monitoring and maintenance, and a failure to consider river dynamics, has often resulted in breaches that worsen flooding. This focus on infrastructure has created a business-like approach to flood management, where funds are allocated for construction without accountability for long-term outcomes or community impact.

In some cases, unnecessary structures are constructed under the guise of providing security. For instance, in 2021, Bihar's Water Resources Department built a new embankment to connect the western Kosi embankment at Jhadaghat with the eastern Kamla Balan embankment near Ether village. Previously, this area was open and occasionally subject to backflow when the Kosi River was in spate, causing water to accumulate between the embankments of the Kosi and Kamla and drain out slowly. However, after the breach of the Western Kosi Embankment at Bhubhol Chowk in September 2024, the Kosi River's water merged with the Gheuma River, which flows between the western Kosi embankment and the eastern Kamla Balan embankment. The floodwater, trapped between the three embankments (Kosi, Kamla Balan and the newly constructed embankment in 2021), eventually breached the newly constructed embankment in three locations, destroying one of the three sluice gates. This incident underscores the flawed planning and implementation of embankment projects that often lead to increased vulnerability rather than providing effective flood management.

The consistent pattern of flooding also raises questions about transparency, accountability, and political will. Flood management in Bihar appears to be a lucrative business for contractors and officials, with vast amounts of money being allocated for embankment construction and repair works every year, yet little to no tangible results in reducing the flood risks faced by vulnerable communities. The discrepancy between allocated resources and actual relief on the ground reflects an ill-intended intervention mechanism that fails to address the root causes of Bihar’s flooding problem.

Communities in flood-prone areas remain vulnerable, with inadequate access to safe drinking water, sanitation, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities during and after floods. The severe impact on rural livelihoods, agriculture, and basic infrastructure further exacerbates poverty and displaces thousands of families each year. The year 2021, for example, saw a particularly harsh impact, with 32 districts and 295 blocks affected, impacting 2.86 million panchayats and a total population of 8.85 million. Such figures illustrate that despite decades of flood management programs, little has been done to bring substantial relief to the affected populations.

Ultimately, the dichotomy of flood management in Bihar lies in the contrast between the investments made for flood prevention and the ground reality of unending suffering faced by its people. Until and unless there is a shift towards sustainable and community-driven flood management solutions, improved maintenance and accountability for flood control structures, and genuine political will to address the systemic issues that perpetuate the flood crisis, the people of Bihar will continue to bear the brunt of the annual floods. This situation highlights the need for a more holistic approach to flood management that incorporates non-structural measures, community engagement, transparency, and accountability in disaster response and preparedness. Without such changes, Bihar will remain caught in the vicious cycle of floods, where the profits of flood management are reaped by a select few, while the people continue to suffer.

(All data shared in the article is from the cumulative Form IX (2005-2023) and flood/heavy rainfall reports (2024) by the Disaster Management Department, Government of Bihar)