Wed Dec 03 00:30:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
An article from The Hindu examines the ongoing struggle to control flooding in the Kosi River basin, often called the “River of Sorrow.” The Kosi River, originating in Tibet and Nepal, frequently breaches its embankments, causing widespread devastation in Bihar, India. The article traces the history of embankment construction, highlighting warnings against their use due to the river’s high silt content. Experts argue that embankments, while offering short-term protection, can exacerbate long-term flood risks by causing silt accumulation and altering the river’s natural flow. The article explores alternative solutions, including “living with floods” through early warning systems and strategic rehabilitation of affected communities, as well as reviving paleochannels to better manage water distribution. The article is critical of the “flood to fortune” promises by political parties, highlighting that flood reduction cannot be done by building embankments or linking the rivers. The article ends with a call for desilting to be done using scientific methods.
News Article:
Kosi River’s Embankments: Short-Term Fix, Long-Term Disaster?
Chennai, December 3, 2025 – As Bihar continues to grapple with the annual flooding of the Kosi River, experts are questioning the long-term effectiveness of embankment strategies. The Kosi, nicknamed the “River of Sorrow,” has a history of breaches, most recently in 2024, causing displacement and economic hardship for millions.
A new report by The Hindu examines the history of flood management along the Kosi, noting the river’s unique challenges. Originating in the Himalayas, the Kosi carries an immense amount of silt, which experts argue renders embankments counterproductive. As the silt accumulates, it raises the riverbed, increasing the risk of catastrophic breaches and exacerbating flooding.
“While embankments may provide temporary relief, they fundamentally disrupt the river’s natural functions and create a false sense of security,” says Dr. E. Somanathan, head of the Centre for Research on the Economics of Climate Change, Food, Energy and Environment.
Alternative strategies, such as improving early warning systems, strategically relocating vulnerable communities, and reviving paleochannels (ancient riverbeds) are gaining traction as more sustainable solutions. The Kosi-Mechi river linking project, to irrigate the water-scarce region, has been shown to carry extra water from Kosi River to Mechi River during the monsoon season, leading to floods.
The debate highlights a broader challenge for India: balancing development goals with the realities of living in a flood-prone region.
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