Three cofferdams at Koshi breached

BIRATNAGAR, May 27: Three cofferdams formed with sand-filled sacks were destroyed Tuesday night by the Koshi river following incessant rain over the last three days, raising doubts about timely repair and reconstruction of the spurs and embankment breached during last year´s floods.



Due to the heavy rainfall, the water-flow level rose to 84,000 cusec [cubic feet per second], destroying the cofferdams. It has increased since then to 94,000 cusec, which, however, is much lower than the 168,000 cusecs recorded on August 18 last year when the eastern dam was breached.



"We immediately informed the authorities concerned after receiving last night´s report and the gates were opened during the night, reducing the flow level," Home Secretary Dr Govinda Kusum said. [break]



A high-level team comprising Kusum, Water Resources Secretary Shankar Koirala, Physical Planning and Construction Secretary Purna Kadariya and Indian Embassy official Alok Sinha flew in to inspect the situation after learning about the breach of the cofferdams Tuesday night.



"Technical experts said during our inspection today that the cofferdams were constructed to divert the flow of water while building the embankment last year and their breach will not affect regular work," Kusum added.



Construction at only three of the five points breached last year has been completed and work at the remaining two spurs is still continuing, raising doubts about completion before the onset of the rainy season.



"The work on the embankment did not happen as speedily as it should have and there was some slackness," secretary Kadariya admitted while talking to reporters after the inspection.



He said that the Kushaha section of the East-West Highway to the west and the alternate road will be completed very soon to restore vehicular movement that has been disrupted by the increased flow of water and deposit of mud on the road. The Department of Roads also plans to put in a Bailey bridge on the temporary road.





The Indian Embassy maintains that repair and reconstruction of the spurs and embankment will be completed by the end of May as scheduled and the breach of the cofferdams will not have any effect on that.



"The high-level team visited Koshi today but not because of any problem; it was simply because concerns were raised in certain quarters," said spokesperson at the embassy Tsering Sherpa.



"There is no breach of the embankment and the water flow level is way below the capacity of the embankment," Sherpa added.



Sherpa said that spur protection is a routine job done every year and has been completed. "Some newly constructed spurs are being completed. There is no need to worry," Sherpa assured.

Related story

Koshi Province Assembly passes finance bill