He aftermath of oods in Bihar

six-member central team will reach Bihar on Monday to assess the damage caused by floods since June this year. Besides affecting three lion people in 14 districts (September 3), this r’s flooding is emerging as a flashpoint between Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata ty (BJP), in the backdrop of enhanced tensions hin the ruling alliance in Bihar. On the floods, ar has asked the Centre to frame a national silting cy and revisit the design of the Farakka barrage. hile the state and Centre discuss flood-related ages and measures to contain it, both also need onsider another aspect. Floods are becoming a urring danger to the sustainability of the state’s rts for open defecation-free status. They threaten et structures (built under the Swachh Bharat hiyan and Lohiya Swachh Bihar Abhiyan) and vent user-access during difficult times. In a floodne state, it is important that governments take account ecological and hydro-geological ations, flood typologies, location of habitations floodscapes, to ensure that development funds not wasted. There are solutions available. The ydemand Shauchalaya (beneficial toilets) are ated, ensure ecological sanitation, protect and serve water, and sanitise faecal material. This is one example. But in a climate crisis-hit world, en extreme rainfall events and flooding are oming the norm, it is crucial to work towards lding flood-resilient habitat and infrastructure to e costs and human lives. India must not fall