Thackrey's Fact File

Note: In an interview to Shobha De in Mumbai mirror on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, Raj Thackrey praised Narendra Modi. He wished to emulate him in Maharasthra Shobha De says, The interview was conducted in Marathi at Raj and Sharmila's Shivaji Park residence. Ironically, it was Gandhi Jayanti — non-violence day! She suspects that Raj agreed for interview because she is a Marathi manoos.

Thackeray says, "Those who had experience, have ruined this country for last 60 years. Let's ruin it for five more years by giving it to new people " but then he goes to support L K Advani as the Prime Minister.

This guy talks about Marathi manoos pride!

Consider this. Most of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray's business associates are non-Marathis. His confidante, Sunil Harshe, is based in Dubai, looking after Raj's vast business interests in the UAE. Both Thackeray's children are at English-medium schools. His son, who entered college this year, chose to study German instead of Marathi. When Thackeray was part of the Shiv Sena, he would often oblige non- Marathi contractors looking for work with the Sena-controlled Mumbai municipal
corporation. Thackeray also smokes the best imported cigarettes and sips high-end Scotch and cognac. He loves to drive a Mercedes or Pajero and is a charming host even if his guests don't speak Marathi. Raj Thackeray is the most cosmopolitan Mumbaikar one could meet at Shivaji Park, where he lives in an elegant penthouse.

But give him a microphone and he becomes a bhaiyya-basher. Bhaiyya is the term for migrants from UP and Bihar. Thackeray's rabid verbal attacks on bhaiyyas and his supporters' physical assaults, have in one fell blow, tried to undermine Mumbai's cosmopolitan foundations.

Raj appears to be following in the footsteps of his uncle, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. But there is a crucial difference. In the sixties and seventies, Thackeray senior accused south Indians of robbing Marathis of jobs in banks, the insurance sector and elsewhere.

It was a rant with a reason. The Maharashtrian middle class faced a very real problem. Over the years, the Shiv Sena took corrective steps to recruit lakhs of Marathis to large organizations. Thackeray senior's protest had a political sub-text. At the instigation of the ruling Congress, it was meant to strike at the communists who were controlling many trade unions in the metropolis.

The nephew is marching to a different drummer. Raj has had virtually to invent an enemy - the hapless bhaiyya. First and most important, there just aren't many jobs available in the commercial capital of India facing recession. Migrants to Mumbai work in sweatshops; drive cabs and autorickshaws. They are not a major threat to unemployed
sons-of-the-soil.

So why is Raj getting the bhaiyyas beaten up? He claims that the railways don't advertise vacancies in the Marathi press, which prevents local youths from finding out about jobs available. But railway officials insist the recent examinations were advertised in Marathi newspapers.

Raj's outbursts have a political background. The state's Democratic Front government comprises Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). But as Shiv Sena executive president and Raj's bete noire, Uddhav Thackeray, says, the government is a non-performing one. He has consistently evoked an excellent response on his extensive tours of the state's different districts precisely because he lambasts the state government for its "failure on every front."

The government has not added a single MW to the state's power generation capacity. Maharashtra is facing a 5,500-MW shortage of power. Fuel shortage means the mega power plant at Dabhol on the Konkan coast hardly produces any electricity at all. Hundreds of farmers in Vidarbha's cotton belt continue to commit suicide. Maharashtra's infrastructure is almost, but not quite, on a par with Bihar.

In addition, rallies addressed by Uddhav and BJP leaders have evoked huge response from the masses, says state BJP president Nitin Gadkari, ensuring many sleepless nights for Congress and NCP leaders. So what better way of preventing the saffron alliance from returning to power than weakening the principal opposition party, the Shiv Sena? Raj's exit from the Shiv Sena gave the Congress-NCP alliance a chance to weaken Bal Thackeray's 43-year-old party.

In a cynical move, the state government decided to look the other way when Raj and his men attacked the north Indian migrants, to demonstrate their commitment to the Marathi manoos. Though Raj wanted to show he was the real champion of Marathi interests, the government had a different calculation in order to ensure the Marathi vote is split. It let him have his share of the political fun. Film director and activist Mahesh Bhatt says, "The government is playing with fire for short-term electoral gains. Mumbai's cosmopolitanism is under threat."

Viren Shah who was at the forefront of the traders' campaign to counter Raj's coercive tactics says, "We all respect Marathis and Marathi culture. But leaders like Raj are giving a bad name to Mumbai and all that it stands for. The problem for Marathis is the same as for non-Marathis - water shortage, poor sanitation, pathetic
infrastructure and poverty. But Raj is allowing himself to be used by vested interests bent on weakening the Shiv Sena."

Raj's anxiety levels must have risen when the press started to speculate that Uddhav would be chief minister if the Shiv Sena-BJP combine wins next year's assembly elections. He must hope he never sees that day. If the bhaiyyas are to be targeted to prevent this, so be it.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Editorial/Holding_Mumbai_to
_ransom/articleshow/3641431.cms
_._,_.___

Kosi (Mithila) Crisis: "Kusaha Breach and Thereafter"

At a talk & a day long Panel Discussion in Patna on "Kusaha Breach and Thereafter", heated exchanges between pro-"kosi high dam" engineers and proponents of "living with floods" ended with an apparent conclusion that high dams & embankments are less of an engineering interventions and more of a political intervention. On 17 October, on the eve of two months of the Kosi breach, the talk was delivered by Dr Dinesh Kumar Mishra, a well known voice of sanity with regard to Kosi crisis.

Failure of dams as flood control structures has been demonstrated in Orissa, Gujarat, Maharasthra and Jharkhand.

Disaster management and relief centric narrative that has become the dominant factor came in for severe criticism.

A white paper was demanded, while sharing the Hindi version of the Fact Finding Report on Kosi “Kosi “Pralay”: Bhayaavah Aapada Abhi Baaki Hai” sought accountability of Kosi High Level Committee (KHLC) and provide a remedy for the drainage crisis in North Bihar as was promised by the UPA government's Common Minimum Programme. All the activities of KHLC should be put in suspension till the time their liability is fixed and Justice Rajesh Balia Judicial Commission of inquiry set up on September 9, 2008 is completed. The commission’s recommendations must not meet the fate of several dozens of committees and it must recommend criminal charges against acts of omission and commission.

It is noteworthy that Union Water Resources Department Secretary, in a letter to the Bihar Irrigation Secretary on September 24, 2008 has questioned the locus standi of the judicial commission. The letter read: “The Kosi agreement is a bilateral agreement between two sovereign states, India and Nepal, and Bihar is not a party to either 1954 or the 1966 agreement.”

Water and Power Consultation Services (WAPCOS), a central government’s public sector undertaking has provided technical inputs to the Bihar government on possible ways to plug the breach at Kusaha in Nepal.

Participants included victims of embankments who expressed their anguish at the Delhi, Kathmandu and Patna centric deliberations and decision making. They called for a movement against Kosi High Dam, embankments and changing the current course of Kosi.

Amid news reports that Kosi's course will be restored by December 15 and the breach would be plugged by March 31, 2009 citing Kosi Breach Closure Advisory Technical Committee chairman Nilendu Sanyal and Ganga Flood Control Commission chairman R C Jha on 14 October, 2008 to finalise modalities on plugging the breach, some participants were opposed to the repair of the breach in Kusaha. Government must hear the views of these people before undertaking repair works.

Meanwhile, central government has sanctioned Rs 40 crore for the project and Bihar Cabinet has sanctioned Rs 197 crore. Bihar Water Resources Minister Bijendra Yadav has said tenders for the breach closure have been invited and bidding will take place after October 21.

Kosi is an international river and all interventions must show utmost sensitivity that does not bring a bad name to our country. The onus is the central government to avoid a situation which makes our country a laughing stock for mismanagement of rivers.

It emerged from the discussions that a list of "what not to do in Kosi basin" must be prepared before relying on the suggestions of retired and tired officials like Nilendu Sanyal and his ilk. Post-retirement enlightenment of engineers has more to do with their own rehabilitation less to do with kosi victims welfare.

People of Kosi basin are victims of development and the arrogance of governmental knowledge that are used to scare common people into silence and submission by their declarations such as "I Know the facts".

From K L Rao, Kanwar Sen, K N Lal to Nilendu Sanyal all of them gave flood control solutions...people in Kosi basin are victims of their solution.

Dr Mishra explained why Kosi has been flowing at a level higher than its adjoining mainland. The reduced cross-section of the river due to embankments was expected to facilitate the dredging of its bed. Instead, the Kosi offloaded silt into the river and raised the level of its bed. That the Kosi is among one of the highest silt-laden rivers in the country makes matters worse. Had the river been free to meander, it would have deposited fertile silt, collected from the slopes of Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga, across the plains of north Bihar. But that was not to be, as most of the silt carried over the years lies trapped between river banks, reducing the stream flow on the one hand and making the embankments vulnerable to breach on the other.

He also revisited historical records and official documents arguing that floods caused by this river are not man-made, they are devil-made. Devils being the nexus between politician-engineer-contractors that feeds on the status quo.

Participants included Himanshu Thakkar, Sudhirendar Sharma, Gopal Krishna, Arvind Chaudhary, Kuber Nath Lal, K P Kesari, R K Singh, S K Sinha, Ram Chandra Khan, Shaibal Gupta, PP Ghosh, Rakesh Bhatt, Vijayji, Shivanand Bhai, C P Sinha, C Uday Bhaskar, V N Sharma, RK Sinha, A K Verma, N Sharma, B Singh, Chandrashekhar, T Prasad, Kavindra Pandey, Prem Kumar Verma, Raj Ballabh and several others.

Kosi is synonymous with the history, culture of not only Mithila but whole of the Indian sub-continent. One cannot think of the Indian sub-continent without thinking about Ramayana (Sita) and Mahabharata (Karna). Ramayana and Mahabharata cannot be even imagined in the absence of Mithila. The structural solutions have already distorted the landscape of the Kosi-Mithila region, Kosi High Dam would turn out to be a monument of foolishness for generations to come. Like the villains of embankment proposal, all the kosi high dam proponents must be identified and dealt with by something like a Kosi Sansad.

The proposal to raise a 269-meter-high dam in Sunakhambi Khola on the Sapta Kosi river, 5 km north of Barahachhetra temple in Sunsari district appeared to be an unsound proposition of people who are caught in a time warp. Proposed "Sapta Kosi Multi Purpose Project" claims to irrigate 68,450 hectares in Nepal and provide remedy for drought-prone areas measuring 1,520,000 hectares in India. It is claimed that alongwith irrigation and flood control, about 3,500 MW of electrical power would also be generated from water stored in the 269-meter-high reservoir.

According to a preliminary impact study, the proposed high dam will displace 75,000 people from about 79 Village Development Committees (VDCs) in nine districts of Nepal alone. About 111 settlements in the 79 VDCs, sprawling over the banks of the Sun Kosi, Tamor, and Arun rivers, will be totally submerged, while 47 settlements will face partial submergence, and 138 will become fractionally submerged.

Opinions available in public domain say, "If the dam is going to cause such upheaval, can the crops produced from the 68,450 hectares of irrigated land in Nepal compensate for this huge loss?" argued the bimonthly magazine, Pro Public/Good Governance, in its report. Estimated losses in the North Bihar are yet to be ascertained.

Elsewhere on the web Vinay Jha, Editor, Mithila Times argues that the kosi High Dam is actually a population-control plan by the government; a dam break in an earthquake prone zone will eradicate poverty in a vast region by eradicating the poor. Narural flow of rivers and natural habitats must not be tampered with, which we must maintain if we want life to exist on Earth. Instead of a gigantic dam, what we need is a gigantic network of very small scale water management schemes, including a vast network of small dams in Himalayas. But Indian officials can never think or manage such schemes.

Earlier, the meeting of the Indo-Nepal Joint Committee on Water Resources in Kathmandu on October 2, 2008 agreed to expedite work on preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) on Saptkosi High Dam on the Kosi.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to expediting the work on preparation of the DPR of Saptkosi High Dam project during the meeting which concluded on Wednesday in Kathmandu. Nepal assured full administrative support and security to Indian engineers.

After the breach, on August 18-19, 2008 Nepal government had said that Kosi treaty is a "historic blunder" but Nepal government's inconsistent and ambiguous position now on the Kosi High Dam proposal based on the same treaty must be exposed in the Nepali parliament and media.

In order to save Kosi region from an ecological and human disaster, Nepali and Indian legislators must take a categorical position based on a referendum on Kosi.

Unprecedented human migration and misery due to manmade floods

Unprecedented human migration and misery due to manmade floods

Preliminary findings of the Fact Finding Team on Bihar floods

Nearly 73.06 per cent of the area of Bihar is prone to flooding. It is
estimated that about half a million have migrated from the embanked Kosi
region alone. In the face of mass exodus from the state, the resumption of
flood control embankments aggravates the situation of countrywide
condemnation and humiliation that migrant Biharis face. These structures
have compelled them to migrate in search of livelihood.

A multidisciplinary 14 member Fact Finding Team has concluded its 8 daylong
travel of the flood affected regions of North Bihar wherein it traversed
along the embanked parts of Kosi, Kamala, Bhutahi Balan and Baghmati rivers.
The visit from March 1-8, 2008, entailed visiting Khagaria, Saharsa, Supaul,
Saptari, Kunauli, Kamalpur, Mahadeo Math, Nirmali, Ghoghardiha, Kosi
barrage, Runni Saidpur, Sitamarhi, Vaishali and other places.

The manner in which floods have been amazingly sustained in this region
despite over five decades of relentless efforts have been the core idea
behind this voluntary mission.

Backed by volume of secondary literature but limited primary exposure of
ground realities, this team is anguished to conclude that not only are these
floods manmade but that the worse is yet to come should the political
economy of flood control continue to pivot itself around `temporary
embankment' as the only solution to the scourge of floods. The state
pretends that it is afflicted by the colossal ignorance regarding the
primary function of floodwater--draining out excess water and the fact that
no embankment has yet been built or can be built in future that will not
breach.

The team is outraged to report that the government's investment of over Rs
1600 crores since the early 1950's has helped increase the flood prone area
from 25 lakh hectare during the pre-plan era to over 68.8 lakh hectare
today, an unprecedented three-fold increase. Proposed as temporary measure
to control floods in the 1950s and having had failed on all fronts, the team
is bewildered to note that the business of embankment construction has
resumed after a lapse of 17 years with a Rs 792 crores package to tame the
Bagmati. There is another proposal to embank the tributaries of Mahananda at
an estimated cost of Rs 850 crores. Clearly, the lessons in human misery
have not been learnt.

That over 2 million people are permanently trapped between the flood control
embankments and an equal number of people faced with acute water logging in
the so-called flood protected areas, only exposes the stark failure of the
state's democratic governance. The team observed the inevitability of
migration due to loss of livelihood that is a consequence of state's benign
intervention and its callousness. This exposes the migrant Bihari population
to the wrath of perverted political monsters in Assam, Maharasthra, Punjab,
and Delhi. Sporadic incidents across the country demonstrate state's
collusive inaction. The team is astounded to observe that the state remains
a mute spectator to the denial of basic rights of livelihood and instead it
accentuates their misery by pretending ignorance about the outdated, tried,
tested and failed technology of embankments as if it is caught in a time
warp.

The team observed state's arrogance and misplaced faith in engineering that
has stopped the natural process of `landbuilding' by these rivers, a process
that had ushered in necessary socio-cultural conditions for emergence of
`civilisation'. Need it be said that the marriage of natural capital and
social capital had made Bihar the apex knowledge center. The total collapse
of this knowledge culture within the state is a result of embankment of this
capital.

The team notes that 8.36 lakh hectare of land in North Bihar is permanently
waterlogged, which is nearly 16 per cent of the North Bihar's total area.
Some 8 million people have been directly hit by water logging, earning the
state the dubious distinction of being the leading claimant of this kind of
manmade submergence. Draining vast stretches of waterlogged land is
technologically and financially unfeasible. Can any welfare state afford to
keep its most fertile lands under water?

The team witnessed how the poor and the powerless are obviously the main
victims. It emerged from the narratives of the villagers that embankments
are for the benefit of the contractor politicians and the technocratic
development ideology to deal with flood suits them unmindful of the
environmental and social mess.

As the embankment lobby has gained momentum once again, the fact that such
interventions will raise river levels by several meters, making the land
between the embankments uninhabitable for millions of people displacing them
for good. The bitter experience of flood control embankments has given birth
to a strong sentiment against it.

The team shockingly wondered about the land use change that has adversely
affected the ecosystem of the region contributing to the rupture of its
carrying capacity. It makes a classic case requiring urgent measures to undo
the damages that appear beyond redemption.

The team examined the impact of flood control measures and the trends in
consequent losses in the region. The team has inferred that migration is an
indicator of the enormity of glaring state failure. Embankments remain the
main loss-determining factor. The team calls for a white paper on the impact
of existing embankments.

Those living today in the flood-affected region are promised other
ecologically disastrous projects like Barahkshethra Dam and Interlinking of
Rivers is like proposing one catastrophe to solve another a la devil and the
deep sea.

The observations made by the team are its preliminary findings. The final
and detailed report of the Fact Finding Team would be shared in due course.

How relevant is Kosi treaty of 1954

Note: How relevant is the agreement in the event of the breach in the east Kosi
embankment at Kusaha in Nepal on August 18?

According to Bihar government, flood has hit the state's 14 districts of Saharsa, Muzaffarpur, Katihar, West Champaran, Patna, Nalanda, Khagaria, Sheikhpura, Purnia, Saran, Begusarai, Supaul, Araria and Madhepura. The worst hit districts are Supaul, Araria and Madhepura where over 60 relief camps have been set up.

Kosi Agreement between India and Nepal

THIS Agreement made this twenty fifth day of April 1954, between the Government
of the Kingdom of Nepal (hereinafter referred to as the 'Government') and the
Government of India (herein after referred to as the 'Union')

WHEREAS the Union is desirous of constructing a barrage, head-works and other
appurtenant work [s] about 3 miles upstream of Hanuman Nagar town on the Kosi
River with afflux and flood banks, canals and protective works, on land lying
within the territories of Nepal, for the purpose of flood control, irrigation,
generation of hydroelectric power and prevention of erosion of Nepal areas on
the right side of the river, upstream of the barrage (hereinafter has referred
to as the 'Project');

AND WHEREAS the Government has agree to the construction of the said barrage,
head-works and other connected works by and a the cost of the Union, in
consideration of the benefits hereinafter appearing;

1. Now the parties agree as follows:

(i) The barrage will be located about 8 miles upstream of Hanuman Nagar town.

(ii) Details of the Project - The general layout of the barrage, the areas
within afflux bank, flood embankments and the lines of communications are shown
in the plan annexed to this agreement as Annexure A1.

(iii) For the purpose of clauses 3 and 8 of the agreement, the land under the
ponded areas and boundaries as indicated by the plan specified in sub-clauses
(ii) above, shall be deemed to be submerged.

2. Preliminary Investigations and Surveys

(i) The Government shall authorise and give necessary facilities to the canal
and other officers of the Union or other persons acting under the general or
special orders of such officers to enter upon such lands as necessary with such
men, animals, vehicles, equipment, plant, machinery and instruments as necessary
and undertake such surveys and investigations required in connection with the
said Project before, during and after the construction, as may be found
necessary from time to time by the Chief Engineer, Public Works Department (Kosi
Project ) in the Irrigation Branch of the Bihar Government. These surveys and
investigations will comprise aerial and ground surveys, hydraulic, hydrometric,
hydrological and geological surveys including construction of drillholes for
surface and sub-surface explorations; investigations for communications and for
materials of construction; and all other surveys and investigations necessary
for the proper design, construction and maintenance of the barrage and all its
connected works mentioned under the Project.

here
(ii) The Government will also authorise and give necessary facilities for
investigations of storage or detention dams on the Kosi or its tributaries, soil
conservation measures such as check dams, afforestation, etc., required for a
complete solution of the Kosi problem in the future.

3. Authority for Execution of Works and Occupation of Land and other Property.
(i) The Government will authorise the Union to proceed with the execution of the
said Project as and when the Project or a part of the Project receives sanction
of the said Union and notice has been given by the Union to the Government of
its intention to commence work on the Project and shall permit access by the
engineer(s) and all other officers, servants and nominees of the Union with such
men, animals, vehicles, plants, machinery, equipment and instruments as may be
necessary for the direction ad execution of the project to all such lands and
places and shall permit the occupation, for such period as may be necessary of
all such lands and places as may be required for the proper execution of the
Project.

(ii) The land required for the purposes mentioned in the clause 3(i) above shall
be acquired by the Government and compensation thereof shall be paid by the
Union in accordance with provisions of clause 8 hereof.

(iii) The Government will authorise officers of the Union to enter on land
outside the limits or boundaries of the barrage and its connected works in case
of any accident happening or being apprehended to any of the said works and to
execute all works which may be necessary for the purpose of repairing of
preventing such accident: compensation, in every case, shall be tendered by the
Union to the proprietors or the occupiers of the said land for all damages done
to the some through the Government in order that compensation may be awarded in
accordance with clause 8 hereof.

(iv) The Government will permit the Union to quarry the construction materials
required for the Project from the various deposits as Chatra, Dharan Bazar or
other places in Nepal.

4. Use of water and power

(i). Without prejudice to the right of Government to withdraw for irrigation or
any other purpose in Nepal such supplies of water, as may be required from time
to time, the Union will have the right to regulate all the supplies in the Kosi
River power at the Barrage site in to generate power at the same site for the
purpose of the Project.

(iii) The Government shall be entitled to use up to 50 percent of the
hydro-electric power generated at the Barrage site Power House on payment of
such tariff rates as may be fixed for the sale of power by the Union in
consultation with the Government.

5. Sovereignty and Jurisdiction

The Union shall be the owner of all lands acquired by the Government under the
provisions of clauses 3 hereof which shall be transferred by them to the Union
and of all water rights secured to it under clause 4 (i)

Provided that the sovereignty rights and territorial jurisdiction of the
Government in respect of such lands shall continue unimpaired by such transfer.

6. Royalties

(i)The Government will receive royalty in respect of power generated and
utilized in the Indian Union at rates to be settled by agreement hereafter.
Provided that on royalty will be paid on the power sold to Nepal.

(ii) The Government shall be entitled to receive payment of royalties from the
Union in respect of stone, gravel and ballast obtained from the Nepal territory
and used in the construction and future maintenance of the barrage and other
connected works at rated to be settled by agreement hereafter.

(iii) The Union shall be at liberty to use and remove clay, sand and soil
without let or hindrance from lands acquired by the Government and transferred
to the Union.

(iv) Use the timber from Nepal forests, required for the construction shall be
permitted on payment of compensation.

Provided to compensation will be payable to the Government for such quantities
of timber as may be decided upon by the Government and the Union to be necessary
for use on the spurs or other training works required for the prevention of
caving and erosion of the right bank in Nepal.

Provided likewise that no compensation will be payable by the Union for any
timber obtained from the forest lands acquired by the Government and transferred
to the Union.

7. Customs Duties

The Government shall charge no customs duty or duty of any kind during
construction and subsequent maintenance, on any articles or materials required
for the purpose of the project and the work connected therewith or for the bona
fide use of the Union.

8. Compensation for Land and Property

(i) For assessing the compensation to be awarded by the Union to the Government
in cash (a) lands required for the execution of the various works as mentioned
in clause 3(ii) and (b) submerged lands, will be divided into the following
classes:

1. Cultivated lands

2. Forest lands

3. Village lands and houses and other immovable property standing on them.

4. Waste lands (i) All lands recorded in the register of lands in the territory
of Nepal as actually cultivated shall be deemed to be cultivated lands for the
purposes of this clause.

(ii) The Union shall pay compensation (a) to the Government for the loss of land
revenue as at the time of acquisition in respect of the area acquired and (b) to
whomsoever it may be due for the Project and transferred to the Union.

(iii) The assessment of such compensation, and the manner of payment shall be
determined hereafter by mutual agreement between the Government and the Union.

(iv) All lands required for the purposes of the project shall be jointly
measured by the duly authorised officers of the Government and the Union
respectively.

9. Communications

(i) The Government agrees that the Union may construct and maintain roads,
tramways, ropeways etc. required for the Project in Nepal and shall provide land
for these purposes on payment of compensation as provided in clause 8.

(ii) Subject to the territorial jurisdiction of the Government the ownership and
the control of the metalled roads, tramways, and railway shall vest in the
Union. The roads will be essentially departmental roads of the irrigation
Department of the Union and any concession in regard to their use by commercial
and non-commercial vehicles of Nepal shall not be deemed to confer any right of
way.

(iii) The Government agreed to permit, on the same terms as for other users, the
use of all roads, waterways and other avenues of transport and communication in
Nepal for bona fide purposes of the construction and maintenance of the barrage
and other connected works.

(iv) The bridge over Hanuman Nagar Barrage will be open to public traffic but
the Union shall have the right to close the traffic over the bridge for repairs,
etc.

(v) The Government agrees to permit the use of telephone and telegraph in the
project area to authorised servants of the Government for business in
emergencies provided such use does not in any way interfere with the
construction and operation of Projects.

10. Use of River Craft

All navigation rights in the KosiRiver in Nepal will rest with the Government.
The use of water-craft like boat launches and timbe rafts within two mils of the
Barrage and headworks shall not be allowed except by special licence under
special permits to be issued by the Executive Engineer, Barrage. Any
unauthorised watercraft found within this limit shall be liable to prosecution.

11. Fishing Rights

All the fishing rights in the KosiRiver in Nepal except within two miles of the
Barrage shall vest in the Government of Nepal. No fishing will be permitted
within two miles of the Barrage and Headworks.

12. Use of Nepali labour

The union shall give preference to Nepali labour, personnel and contractors to
the extent available and in its opinion suitable for the construction of the
Project but shall be at liberty to import labour of all classes to the extent
necessary.

13. Administration of the Project Areas in Nepal

The Union shall carry out inside the Project areas in the territory of Nepal
functions such as the establishment and administration of schools, hospitals,
provision of water-supply and electricity, drainage, tramway lines and other
civic amenities.

14. The Government shall be responsible for the maintenance of laws and order in
the Project areas within the territory of Nepal. The Government and Union shall,
from time to time consider and make suitable arrangements calculated to achieve
the above object.

15. If so desired by the Union, the Government agrees to establish special court
or courts in the Project area to ensure expeditions disposal of cases arising
within the Project area. The Union shall bear the cost involved in the
establishment of such courts, if the Government so desires.

16. Future Kosi Control Works

If further investigations indicate the necessity of storage or detention dams
and other soil conservation measures on the Kosi and its tributaries, the
Government agree to grant their consent to them on conditions similar to those
mentioned herein.

17. Arbitration

If any question, differences or objections whatever shall arise in any way,
connected with or arising out of this agreement or the meaning or operation of
any part thereof or the rights, duties or liabilities of either party, except as
to decisions of any such matter as therein before otherwise provided for, every
such matter shall be referred for arbitration to two persons-one to be appointed
by the Government and the other by the Union-whose decision shall be final and
binding, provided that in the event of disagreement between the two arbitrators,
they shall refer the matter under dispute for decision to an umpire to be
jointly appointed by the two arbitrators before entering on the reference.

18. This agreement shall be deemed to come into force with effect from the date
of signatures of the authorised representatives of the Government and the Union.
respectively.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned being duly authorised thereto by their
respective Governments have signed the present agreement.
DONE at Kathmandu, in duplicate, this twentyfifth day of April 1954.

Government
Sd/-

GULZARILAL NANDA

For the Government of India.

Sd/-

MAHA BIRSHUMSHER
For the Government of Nepal.2008-08-21 07:32:09

Ranvir Sena kills two CPI-ML activists

Two CPI-ML (Liberation) activists were gunned down by suspected Ranvir Sena men in Bihar's Bhojpur district on 12 August.

Tarkeshwar (22) and Dhanesh (25), workers of the CPI-ML, were shot dead by an armed squad of the Ranvir Sena, a banned militia of upper caste land owners, near Kharaon village of the district this evening.

Unidentified Ranvir Sena men ambushed the two when they were on way to their native Bathanitola village from Sahar.

Patrolling has been intensified and contingents of Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) comprising ex-servicemen deployed in the area in view of the tension.

No respite from waterlogging

Note: Similar conditions prevail in Ara. There are areas in Ara which are permanently waterlogged and domestic sewage gets mixed with it to make the city a spectacle. Everyone in the city seems to have accepted the situation as a way of life. Surely, there are more important things to be done by the residents of Ara. Waste Management and drainage is not too significant to merit attention.

Ms/ Shah Technology Pvt. Ltd. has been given the task to prepare a De tailed Project Report for Ara and HUDCO has been nominated for the preparation of Master Plan of Ara to face the serious challenges of public health, sanitation and environmental pollution.

Currently, both district and municipal administration are conspicuous by their absence in Ara. The city seems to be waiting for Plague to wake up from its slumber.

Patna, (Bihar Times): Notwithstanding four times increase in the estimate in the last couple of years the drainage construction work in Kankarbagh locality of Patna is not going to be completed in the near future. Sources said that residents of the colony are likely to face water-logging in 2009 or even in 2010 or ahead.

Though the National Building Construction Corporation, the firm assigned to build the drainage system, has now fixed the deadline for completion at November 2009 sources say that it is not going to be completed by that time.

The initial cost of the project was Rs 12 crore, then it was raised to Rs 18 crore. This was before the construction work actually started. When it commenced the revised estimate was put at Rs 22.80 crore. This was then raised to Rs 34 crore and finally to Rs 49.1 crore.

Talking to a newspaper earlier this week one of the officials of the NBCC said that the detailed project report (DPR) prepared by the Bihar Rajya Jal Parishad was not found fit to deal with the drainage problem of the colony. Thus the Corporation had to prepare its own DPR.

It is not that the work is going at extremely slow pace, even the material used for the construction of drainage is sub-standard. Chief minister Nitish Kumar himself inspected the work early this year and pulled up the engineers engaged in the work.

History of Bhojpur

It is said that Ara, the present headquarters of the district derives its name from the Sanskrit word 'ARANYA', which means forest. It suggests that the entire area around modern Ara was heavily forested in old days.

The present district of Bhojpur came into existence in 1992.

Earlier this district was the part of old Shahabad district. In the year 1972 Shahabad district was bifurcated in two parts namely Bhojpur and Rohtas. Buxar was a sub-division of old Bhojpur district.

In 1992 Buxar became a separate district and rest of Bhojpur district has now three sub-divisions-Ara Sadar, Jagdishpur and Piro. Ara town is the headquarters of the district and also its principal town.

The district is bounded on the north by the district of Saran ( Bihar ) and Balia district of Uttar Pradesh; on the south by the district of Rohtas; on the West by the district of Buxar and on the East by the district of Patna, Jahanabad and Arwal.

Bhojpur district has a close linkage with that of its parent district of Shahabad, which had an old and interesting history. In the pre-historic days also there is evidence of the area being inhabited. The 1961 Census report of Shahabad describes the history of the district in following manner.

According to mythology, sage Vishwamitra, the Guru of RAMA , had his 'Ashram' somewhere in this region.

The 1961 Census report also describes the early period of the old Shahabad district which includes the present district of Bhojpur as :

"In the old days, Shahabad formed part of the ancient kingdom of Magadh which also contained portions of the present Patna & Gaya district. Though included in the kingdom of Emperor ASHOKA , the general absence of Buddhists' monuments from a greater part of the district suggests that it remained almost immune from the Buddhist influence of the time”

"The famous Chinese pilgrim, HIEUN-TSANG, who journeyed through the country in the seventh century A.D., paid a visit to Mo-Ho-Solo in Shahabad. This place has been identified with the present village Masarh, 10 k.m. west of Ara on Ara-Buxar road. The Chinese pilgrim found that the inhabitants were all Brahmins who did not respect the law of Buddha. He, therefore, felt disappointed and did not proceed to any other place in the district."

"Not much is known about the history of the district after the fall of Guptas. In all probability it relapsed into the hands of the aboriginal tribes and came under control of petty chieftains. The most dominant people during this period were Cheros. They ruled over the greater portion of the district. Then came the Rajputs from Ujjain in the province of Malwa . Raja Bhoj was their king and the term 'Bhojpur' now applicable to the area is derived from him."

The Medieval period history of this district has been described in the following words :

"While encamping at Ara in 1529 after his victory over the Afghan rulers, Babar proclaimed his sovereignty over Bihar . In commemoration of this event, the place was called Shahabad, which literally means 'the city of Emperor '. This name was later applied to the Sarkar within which Ara was included and eventually toe entire district."

Akbar, after his accession, includes the district of Shahabad in his empire, though the control was not very tight. Akbar's General Man Singh, made efforts to organize the revenue administration of the district on a sound footing. But the local chiefs continued to resist. The Rajas of Jagdishpur and Bhojpur defied the Mughals. The Raja of Bhojpur rebelled against Jahangir. His successor Raja Pratap, was done to death by Shahjahan and the Queen was forced to many a muslim courtier. This finally quietened the Bhojpur family but stray troubles continued till the last days of Mughals.

After this the District had a very uneventful history till 1857 when Kunwar Singh revolted against the Britishers in line with the Mutineers.

THE REVOLT OF 1857

About the fight of independence of 1857, by the Raja of Jagdishpur, the famous historian Pundit Sunder Lal writes in his history named "Bart Mein Angereji Raj" as follows :

"On July 25th 1857 , the Indian army of "British Fauz" declared the Independence at Danapur and proceeded to , Jagdishpur in Bhojpur district, Kunwar Singh was the Raja of Jagdishpur at that time, Kunwar Singh was very popular in surrounding areas. At that time he was at the age of 80 years.

"When the revolutionary army reached Jagdishpur, the old King Kunwar Singh immediately took the command of that army. He reached Ara with this army and captured the English Treasury, released the prisoners from Ara Jail and destroyed English Offices totally.

"On July 29.1857, Captain Danwar proceeded to Ara with 300 English and 100 Sikh armies. When he reached near Ara, he was attacked by Gorilla fighters of Kunwar Singh in Mango Garden (kayamnagar) at night. Only 50 persons of British army were survived out of 415 till the morning of 30th July. Captain Danwar was also killed at the same place (Kayamnagar).

"A big British army led by Major Ayar with cannons proceeded to Ara from the west to help the surrounded British army on Aug, 2nd, 1857 . A big battle took place at Bibiganj (about 5 kms, west of Ara). The English army became successful in this battle and Kunwar Singh was forced to retreat. After 8 days, the captured Ara town and the castle of Ara (Ara house) were freed. Kunwar Singh came back to Jagdishpur and Major Ayer followed him with the victorious army. After the fight of many days on Aug,14, the Kilo of Jagdishpur fell in the hands of Major Ayer."

"After 8 months fighting with British armies at different places in Eastern U.P. . Kunwar Singh decided to come back to Jagdishpur via Gazipur. He reached his capital Jagdishpur and again took-over his thrown with the help of another small army collected by his younger brother Amar Singh on April 22, 1858 . Kunwar Singh was forced to fight again within 24 hours of his arrival at Jagdishpur. A fierce battle again took place between Kunwar Singh and Britishers at a distance of one and half miles away from Jagdishpur. This battle had taken place between the night of 22nd and 23rd April, 1853 and was again won by the injured Kunwar Singh"

"Kunwar Singh regained his thrown of Jagdishpur on 23rd April, 1958 and ruled again till the death. The 23rd April is celebrated at Ara, Jagdishpur and all over the state of Bihar as "Kunwar Singh Vijayotsav Diwas" every year. The old and injured Lion Kunwar Singh died on 26the April 1958 as an independent ruler but before his death he freed his state and the people from the slavery of British rule".

"After his death, his younger brother Amar Singh took the thrown of Jagdishpur. He also fought with British army at Behia, Hetampur and Dalipur and British army were defeated everywhere. Frustrated with regular defeat General Legend resigned from his post. General Dugles took the charge of British army announced awards to the persons who could bring the head of Amar singh but was not successful in getting Amar Singh in his custody. On 17th Oct. 1958 , the British army surrounded Jagdishpur and attacked from seven points but Amar singh came out of Jagdishpur fighting with his courageous army. The Britishers captured Jagdishpur. Amar Singh surrounded by the British army at "Nounadi" 300 armies of Amar Singh was killed but he again fled with 100 army persons. The Britishers could not catch him but followed long. Once the British army was about to catch the elephant on which Amar Singh was riding but he jumped from the elephant and fled away/ He entered the forests of Kaimur hills. He never accepted the defeat. After entering Kaimur hills, there was no trace of him."

In this way, the history of 1857, Specially of Jagdishpur and Ara of Bhojpur district is glorious and the people of the district owe their glorious past.

THE QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT

The history of "Quit India Movement" in 1942 is also written by the blood of the virtuous revolutionaries of this district. Two incidents are very important in the month of September 1942 for this district. Village Lasarhi, 32 kms. south of the district headquarters, Ara was the centre of the underground revolutionaries of Shahabad district. On 15th Sep. 1942 , the British police surrounded the Lasarhi village. The people of not only Lasarhi but of the near-by villages like Dhakani and Chasi bravely faced the bullets of Sten gun and LMGs. In this course 7 men and 1 woman were killed.

After passing of the Quit India Resolution on 9th Aug, 1942 , the district of Shahabad had seen many protest movement. To accelerate the movement, the revolutionaries of the district decided to hoist the tri-color at Ara collectorate. Sep 28th, 1942 was decided the date by the district administration to deposit the "Role-Cess". On this very day a group of "Satyagrahi started Satyagrah at collectorate from the village Jagwalia. The group was led by a brave soldier of independence Kavi Kailash of the village Ghoradei. Hiding from the eyes of police, the group reached somehow at Ara collectorate and hoisted the tri-color in the campus of Ara collectorate. The Satyagrahi were brutally beaten-up there. Kavi Kailash was lifted and thrashed on a big stone near Ara collectorate tank. He was also tied with horse and brutally dragged on the roads. Then boiled water was poured over him.

At last chanting the slogans of "Mahatma Gandhi ki Jai" and " Bharat Mata ki Jai ", the brave son of Bhojpur led his life to the rest and became one important martyr of this district.