Patna, Sep 17: Bihar has estimated preliminary losses of around Rs 10,000 crore from the recent floods, with the final assessment expected to be completed after the floodwaters recede, officials said.
A Central government team led by Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited the state on Wednesday to assess the damage and held a high-level meeting with Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and senior officials in Patna.
Various state departments presented their initial assessments to the Central team. The actual extent of damage to crops, roads and other infrastructure will be determined after the water recedes, with the final report expected after October 15. Officials said the estimated losses could rise further.
A detailed memorandum will subsequently be submitted to the Centre. An inter-ministerial team is also expected to visit the state once floodwaters recede, while district-level teams will assess damage on the ground.
The Water Resources Department has proposed reconstruction of the marginal embankment at Raghopur in Bhagalpur. An embankment near the Valmikinagar barrage on the Gandak River has also weakened and requires repairs due to the risk of a breach.
Several small embankments along the Punpun River in Patna were breached this year following high water levels. The department plans to raise embankments at locations where water overtopped them and undertake special repairs to structures close to populated areas before the next monsoon.
The Agriculture Department reported crop damage across around 1.5 lakh hectares, with paddy, maize, vegetables and banana crops among those worst affected.
Farmers will be able to apply for input subsidies after the floodwaters recede and a detailed assessment is completed. Under existing provisions, farmers are eligible for Rs 8,500 per hectare for crop losses in unirrigated areas, Rs 17,000 per hectare in irrigated areas and Rs 22,500 per hectare for sugarcane, subject to a maximum of two hectares per farmer.
The Agriculture Department is also preparing to distribute seeds of alternative crops, including peas and mustard, to farmers in affected areas.
Chouhan visited relief camps at Sitakund in Munger and Bhagalpur, where he interacted with flood-affected people and children.
“The Centre stands with the state government in helping Bihar overcome the crisis,” Chouhan said.
He also assured that the Centre would support the state government in finding a permanent solution to Bihar’s recurring flood problem.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said the Union minister and his team would brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation observed during their visit. He said a comprehensive assessment of the damage would be completed before Durga Puja and a detailed report sent to the Centre.
