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Patna, (Bihar Times): A lot has been promised by the state government during the unprecedented deluge in Kosi Delta. Bravado bordered on giving a new deal to region to convert it into a better place than what it was earlier. With much fanfare studies were made for reconstruction and rehabilitation plan on the line of Earthquake affected regions of Gujarat and Tsunami hit area of Tamilnadu. Study tours were also conducted at the height of the deluge for the same. However, as the water started subsiding in the Kosi, it seems governments enthusiasm also started to subside accordingly. Soon it is going to be the end of third month since that tragedy, however, the concerned authorities are yet to come out with their plans. Even UNDP report is still awaited.
PIX: N K Niraj
It would be interesting to see what the committee set up for the task under the development secretary has come up in the matter of reconstruction and rehabilitation. It is also not known whether UNDP has put its stamp on the recommendation of the committee through its own survey. However, it is quite clear from the list of pending proposals with World Bank, JBIC, DFID and Asian Development Bank that there is no proposal submitted for funding of the multi lateral agency by central government as was the case with Tsunami and Earthquake reconstruction efforts. Moreover, there is no move to declare the Kosi Region as "Special Development Zone (SDZ)" on the pattern of Kutchh Region of Gujarat providing this region a host of tax break from central government. Barring a feeble voice from the Chairperson of Task Force on Bihar, no other voice has been heard from any other quarters in support of SDZ.
In a stark contrast, the central government’s effort in regard to Tsunami is praiseworthy. It borrowed from World Bank a sum of USD 465 mn. It also took a loan cum grant of USD 200 Mn in equal proportions from ADB for reconstruction effort in the Tsunami affected region. The total central funding through the above borrowing as also from their own sources exceeded Rs.13,144 crores ( Rs 700crore for Immediate Relief + Rs 3644 crores under Rajeev Gandhi Rehabilitation Work + Rs 9800 Crores with Focus on Long term infrastructure). Besides, assistance was also extended under PMNRF for scholarship, healthcare and ex-gratia payments to the tune of Rs900 crores. Agencies like IFAD and UNDP were also very much involved in a well coordinated reconstruction and rehabilitation program for Tsunami affected areas. In contrast for Kosi region, which experienced much wider impact in terms of area and size of the population affected, funding of an mount of Rs. 2610 crores ( 1010 Crore immediate relief and Rs 1600 Crore through various components of Bharat Nirman Program) can be considered just a pittance.
It is true that the State government has submitted a quick funding estimate for over Rs 9822 crores at the peak of deluge. However, a detailed work out of the same is still awaited in the above commissioned studies. Besides housing components, precise estimate of reconstruction budget of other infrastructures is still awaited. Moreover, wider public is yet to hear on the various elements of reconstruction proposal whether there is a comprehensive vision underlying the reconstruction work or it is only about patch work. One would expect that state will push for conversion of NH106 into four lanes. State should also go for connecting heart of Kosi region with a fast track four lane highway from state capital Patna, by extending the stretch of NH 107 from Purnia, Madhepura, Saharsa to Hajipur via Kusheshwarsthan and Samstipur using a bridge over Kosi River. Bihar government must push for funding the same by Central government as they have done in case of Tsunami by resorting to either ADB or World Bank funding. These four lane highways are important for ensuring connectivity under all visualized extreme condition, as also, to provide emergency shelter in case of ever occurring floods in the region. It is up to the central government whether they want to do this as part of Kosi region package or as part of NHDPIII program, but it has got to be done, come what may.
However, at this stage it is expected that state government will release the detailed plan for public discussion as well. Without public scrutiny and involvement these proposals may remain stillborn, with state government having submitted the proposal and central authorities sitting over it for a good time to come. Beyond the mere semantics and motion of going through all this, it is important that the reconstruction and rehabilitation effort gets going in full swing.
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**A Financial Sector Consultant and Research Analyst
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