Three cofferdams at Koshi breached
Ajit Tiwari
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.
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.
Source: Republica daily 28 May 2009
Koshi breaches all 3 cofferdams
Abadesh Kumar Jha/Shanker Kharel/Pragati Shahi
INARUWA, May 27 - The flooded Koshi River breached all three cofferdams (temporary dams or pilot channels built to alter the Koshi's course during reconstruction of the embankment) on Tuesday night, after the water level rose significantly.
The breaching of cofferdams has raised serious threats of Koshi havoc this monsoon as reconstruction and repair is still underway at the Koshi site.
On Wednesday afternoon, about 95,000 cusecs water was flowing along the Koshi while the normal water flow is around 10,000 cusecs through the cofferdams. About 16,000 cusecs water was flowing at the time when the Koshi flood took place last August.
“Increased main water current has hit the reconstruction site near the embankment where the spurs are being constructed,” said Hari Krishna Upadhyay, chief district officer of Sunsari, adding, “The breaching of cofferdams has further increased the threat to the newly constructed embankment”.
Meanwhile, to provide outlet for excess water, all 52 doors of the Koshi barrage were opened on Wednesday morning.
A team comprising high level officials including secretaries of Ministry of Water Resources, Home ministry and Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) visited the affected site on Wednesday. Deputy Chief of Mission of the Indian Embassy also visited the site.
According to Purna Kadariya, secretary at MoPPW, serious threat of flood exists this year too due to the snail-paced work of Indian contractors. “We will consult the Indian government and ask them to speed up reconstruction work to minimise danger,” he said.
On the other hand, due to the tardy pace of work on the part of Basistha and Basistha, the Indian company responsible for embankment reconstruction and repairs, only two out of the five spurs were constructed along the 1,700-metre stretch of the embankment. The Indian government had pledged to complete reconstruction work by June 15. The date has already been extended three times before.
Meanwhile, Sheetal Babu Regmi, joint secretary at MoWR, said on Wednesday, the Indian side is unlikely to complete all reconstruction work by June 15.
According to him, though the breaching of cofferdams will not have immediate serious impacts, reconstruction work at the embankment site will be affected with rising water level. Underwater construction work such as launching apron (which acts as filter to stop the scouring of sand on the river bed) will be affected, he said.
Source: The Kathmandu Post 28 May 09
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.
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.
Source: Republica daily 28 May 2009
Koshi breaches all 3 cofferdams
Abadesh Kumar Jha/Shanker Kharel/Pragati Shahi
INARUWA, May 27 - The flooded Koshi River breached all three cofferdams (temporary dams or pilot channels built to alter the Koshi's course during reconstruction of the embankment) on Tuesday night, after the water level rose significantly.
The breaching of cofferdams has raised serious threats of Koshi havoc this monsoon as reconstruction and repair is still underway at the Koshi site.
On Wednesday afternoon, about 95,000 cusecs water was flowing along the Koshi while the normal water flow is around 10,000 cusecs through the cofferdams. About 16,000 cusecs water was flowing at the time when the Koshi flood took place last August.
“Increased main water current has hit the reconstruction site near the embankment where the spurs are being constructed,” said Hari Krishna Upadhyay, chief district officer of Sunsari, adding, “The breaching of cofferdams has further increased the threat to the newly constructed embankment”.
Meanwhile, to provide outlet for excess water, all 52 doors of the Koshi barrage were opened on Wednesday morning.
A team comprising high level officials including secretaries of Ministry of Water Resources, Home ministry and Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) visited the affected site on Wednesday. Deputy Chief of Mission of the Indian Embassy also visited the site.
According to Purna Kadariya, secretary at MoPPW, serious threat of flood exists this year too due to the snail-paced work of Indian contractors. “We will consult the Indian government and ask them to speed up reconstruction work to minimise danger,” he said.
On the other hand, due to the tardy pace of work on the part of Basistha and Basistha, the Indian company responsible for embankment reconstruction and repairs, only two out of the five spurs were constructed along the 1,700-metre stretch of the embankment. The Indian government had pledged to complete reconstruction work by June 15. The date has already been extended three times before.
Meanwhile, Sheetal Babu Regmi, joint secretary at MoWR, said on Wednesday, the Indian side is unlikely to complete all reconstruction work by June 15.
According to him, though the breaching of cofferdams will not have immediate serious impacts, reconstruction work at the embankment site will be affected with rising water level. Underwater construction work such as launching apron (which acts as filter to stop the scouring of sand on the river bed) will be affected, he said.
Source: The Kathmandu Post 28 May 09
