World Bank Signed 220 Million Dollars Deal with Bihar for Bihar Kosi Recovery Project

The World Bank, on 12 January 2011, signed 220 million dollars agreement with the Bihar state government for Bihar Kosi Recovery Project during the two-day state visit of World Bank President Robert Zoellick to Biahr. The aim of the Bihar Kosi recovery project is to rebuild affected areas around Kosi River in 2008 floods. Under the project around 100000 houses would be reconstructed. The constructed houses would be resistant to earthquakes. The cost expenditure per house under the Kosi recovery project would be 55000 rupees with the additional cost of 5000 rupees for solar powered lighting and 2300 rupees for a toilet.

The five components of the Bihar Kosi Recovery Project are:

1)strengthening flood management capacity 2) livelihood restoration 3) reconstruction of roads and bridges 4)owner driven housing reconstruction and 5)improving response capacity in case of emergency. Bihar state government would contribute 39 million dollars to the Kosi recovery project and the rest of the amount would be shared by the World Bank.

Besides, the Kosi recovery project, the World Bank also agreed to help Bihar lessen risk of flooding and strengthen emergency response in case any disaster occurs.

The 2008 floods in Bihar, because of a breach in the embankment of Kosi River at Kusaha in Nepal, had caused massive damage to livelihoods and housing in the districts of Saharsa, Purnia, Araria, Madhepura and Supaul.