Koshi Barrage

Koshi Barrage may be a water channel controlled by the gate across the Koshi watercourse that carries conveyance, bicycle, and foot traffic between Saptari and Sunsari district of Nepal.This barrage was built between 1958 and 1962 which has 56 gates located near the international border with India.The barrage was designed and built by Joseph and Company Limited which was constructed after the Koshi agreement signed between Government of Nepal and India on 25^th April, 1952. The barrage is about 1,150 meter length and 10 meter wide.

Due to this barrage, various area of Terai is affected due to flood and blockage of this barrage every year. The effect of this barrage is mostly seen in Koshi region of Bihar (Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura and Purnia) and hence KoshiRiver is also known as “Sorrow of Bihar”. The annual floods affect about 21,000 square kilometers of fertile agricultural lands which has an average water flow or discharge of 2,166 m³/s. In August 2008, the resulting flood wiped out miles of fertile farmland by covering it with a thick layer of river sand in Nepal and also affected 53,800 Nepalese people. The effect of this flood was bad in India too which left about 3 million people homeless in Bihar, India.The construction of dam close to Koshibarrage must be administrated however Nepal government and most Nepalese folks aren’t showing enthusiasm on constructing it.By this reason, every year people and places around this barrage are highly affected.

So, high dam near Koshi barrage should be constructed as soon as possible to avoid/reduce the loss of human life as well land, places and houses near the boundary of this barrage. For this, Government and people who are not keen on constructing it should be aware of annual loss caused by it which can hence save the life of human as well as properties.