Bihar

Study detects high levels of arsenic in cooked rice in Bihar
Need to remove arsenic from the food chain and not just drinking water in endemic areas Posted on 03 Mar, 2021 08:01 AM

Extensive evidence of elevated arsenic in the food chain, mainly rice, wheat and vegetables exists.

Median excess lifetime cancer risk of 2 per 10,000 from food arsenic exposure in Bihar. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Should we bet more on historians than engineers to sort flooding?
How the historian's method is invaluable in developing an understanding of floods. Posted on 04 Jan, 2021 12:00 AM

Raging floods swarming great expanses have been a common occurrence in the 21st century in South Asia.

Need to consider the perspective of the historians who see floods as a naturally occurring event. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Ahar pynes: Traditional flood harvesting systems of South Bihar
The Ahar pynes of South Bihar are a classic example of a community managed irrigation systems and need urgent revival. Posted on 18 Nov, 2020 02:17 PM


Ahar pynes, the ingenious community managed irrigation systems of South Bihar

Ahar Pyne system in Gaya, South Bihar  (Image courtesy: Hindi Water Portal)
Embankments in Bihar: The inapt and futile defence against floods
Embankments in Bihar have failed miserably against flood protection. Take a look on these frequently asked questions (FAQs) on why they failed and what are the possible solutions to floods in Bihar? Posted on 19 Oct, 2020 06:05 PM

What is the history of floods in Bihar and why is it prone to floods?

An embankment in Madhubani after a week of repairing (Source: Santosh Yadav via IWP Flickr albums)
MNREGA helps a village in Bihar become flood proof
United action of locals, wisdom of the village head and MNREGA help to deal with waterlogging in a village in Bihar. Posted on 20 Sep, 2020 07:08 AM

Harpur Bochha is a village in Vidyapatinagar block of Samastipur district of Bihar. The village, which has a population of about 11.5 thousand people and  2349 houses, remained inundated with rain and floodwater throughout the year followed by waterlogging.

MNREGA comes to the rescue of Harpur Bochha (Source: Umesh Kumar Ray)
Satyagrah by the river calls for action against erosion
River erosion, so intense, that the whole village is in danger. As the government’s help seems a distant dream, locals carry out Satyagrah to expose their plight to the authorities. Posted on 12 Sep, 2020 08:42 AM

Since last week, people of Birjain village have been protesting against erosion by the river bank. They are demanding that the government should put in efforts to prevent river erosion and save their houses, otherwise they will continue with their Satyagrah and perform Jal Samadhi (suicide by drowning). Sattore, a flood-prone Panchayat has about 3000 houses.

Satyagrah by the river (Image source: Umesh K Ray)
All hopes lost for the flood-hit in Bihar
People in Bihar are struggling with the floods for a month now, while the government has turned a blind eye to their plight. Posted on 11 Sep, 2020 08:06 AM

“We went through a lot of trouble over the month. By God’s grace, we are still surviving."

Havoc of floods in Saharsa (Source: Umesh K Ray)
Swollen rivers engulf houses and erode banks wreaking havoc in Bihar
Swollen rivers engulf houses and erode banks in Bihar while the government turns a blind eye to this annual misery. Posted on 04 Sep, 2020 08:16 PM

Floods coupled with erosion increase the woes of Bihar

Erosion due to floods in Ganga river (Source: Umesh Kumar Ray)
With no food on their plate, people seek government help
Incessant rains and floods continue to batter Bihar killing people and livestock, while putting more lives at risk as people continue to wait for government help. Posted on 20 Aug, 2020 04:44 PM

For about last three weeks, Dhananjay Kumar along with his wife and children have been living on the embankment under their plastic shed following the late night July floods that submerged their house.

Flood water enters Chanchalia village. (Image source: Umesh Kumar Ray)
Water projects get priority in MGNREGA amidst COVID-19
Efforts needed to better utilise MGNREGA funds to deter vested interests from misappropriating. Posted on 18 Aug, 2020 01:54 PM

Lockdown in April to May 2020 due to COVID-19 led to the mass migration of workers from the cities to villages. Despite strict measures by the government to stop any movement, people facing lost jobs and high cost of living in the cities began to walk back or use whatever transportation was available to travel to their home villages.

Work in progress at an MGNREGA site (Image: UN Women/Gaganjit Singh)
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