Koshi Barrage

Barrage in Bhimnagar, Nepal
26°31′35″N 86°55′37″E / 26.5263°N 86.9269°E / 26.5263; 86.9269CarriesMotor vehicles

pedestrians

bicyclesCrossesKoshi RiverLocaleSunsari and SaptariOfficial nameKoshi BarrageNamed forKoshi RiverCharacteristicsDesignTruss bridge AqueductMaterialConcrete, steelTotal length1,150 m (3,773.0 ft)Width10 m (32.8 ft)HistoryDesignerJoseph and Company Limited, IndiaConstructed byJoseph and Company Limited, IndiaConstruction start1958Construction end1962Opened1962; 62 years ago (1962)LocationMap

The Koshi Barrage is a sluice across the Koshi river that carries vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic between Saptari district and Sunsari district of Nepal. It is near the International border with India. It was built between 1958 and 1962 and has 56 gates.[1] It was constructed after the Koshi Agreement was signed between the Government of Nepal and India on April 25, 1954.[2][3] The barrage was designed and built by Joseph and Company Limited, India. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is roughly 3–4 miles north of the barrage.

2017 flood

Every year several areas of Terai are affected due to the flood and blockage of this barrage. This affects mostly the Koshi region of Bihar (Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura and Purnia). The Kosi River is known as the "Sorrow of Bihar" as the annual floods affect about 21,000 km2 (8,100 sq mi) of fertile agricultural lands thereby disturbing the rural economy. The Koshi has an average water flow (discharge) of 2,166 m3/s (76,500 cu ft/s).[4]

2008 flood

In August 2008, the eastern embankments of the Koshi Barrage collapsed, several miles north of the Nepal-India border. The resulting flood wiped out miles of fertile farmland in Nepal, covering it with a thick layer of river sand, and affected 53,800 Nepalese. It left 3 million people homeless in Bihar, India.[5]

Tourism

A fisherman on the river near the barrage, collecting fish.

This river is home to the Gangetic Dolphin and other different species of fresh water fish. Siberian birds can be seen there easily during the month of August–October.[6] People usually visit there to have the varieties of fish dishes in the nearby riverside restaurants and see the scenic view from the barrage.

Air transport

Rajbiraj Airport is the nearest airport roughly 26 km (16 mi) away is located in district headquarter and nearest city Rajbiraj. Shree Airlines and Buddha Air operates daily flights between Rajbiraj and Kathmandu[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Koshi Barrack over the largest river of Nepal". Boss Nepal. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Sorrow of Bihar". egov.eletsonline.com. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Koshi Agreement between India and Nepal" (PDF). Indian Embassy, Nepal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  4. ^ "'Sorrow of Bihar' River Kosi: An overview". 4 August 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  5. ^ Adhikary, Dhruba (5 September 2008). "For Prachanda, a tale of two cities", Asia Times. Retrieved on 29 September 2008.
  6. ^ "दुई दिने प्याकेजको तयारी". onlinekhabar. OK. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Rajbiraj Airport to resume its flight services from May 8 as Shree Airline prepares for flight operation". 24 April 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Koshi Barrage.
  • balraj media. koshi barrage :- कोशी पुल नहीं बचा पाया नेपाल
  • Sushil Koirala (21 August 2008). "What is Flooding the Koshi Barrage?" Archived 13 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine, eKantipur.com.
  • Diversity of Wetland Birds around the Koshi Barrage Area by D. T. Chhetry in Our Nature (2006)4:91-95
  • Reed, David; James McConnachie (2002). The Rough Guide to Nepal. Rough Guides. p. 395. ISBN 1-85828-899-1.
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