Serious concerns were raised over the possible flooding of Kosi river in Bihar due the creation of an artificial lake in Nepal following a landslide there and a member sought to know if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue during his just-concluded Nepal visit.
Concerned over the threat of flood and possible destruction and loss of lives in case of more rainfall, Pramod Tiwari (Congress) in Rajya Sabha demanded to know what steps the government had initiated to avert it.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Tiwari said "an artificial lake has been created at the origin of Kosi in Nepal due to a massive landslide. This lake with 27 lakh cusec water has turned into a water bomb and in case of more rainfall it will create havoc in parts of Bihar."
He said the issue was not only Bihar government's concern but "I want to know from Government of India, what arrangement it has done to save Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as a similar incident had wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand."
"The water bomb is waiting to explode and I want to know whether the PM who went there raised the issue or not. Only offering prayers would not do. The issue is serious," Tiwari said.
He said it concerns lakhs of lives and was a matter of concern for all.
A number of members associated with the demand.
