Updated on Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 00:00 IST

Patna, Nov 12: The Rs 14,808.95-crore multi-purpose Kosi Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Policy-2008 aimed at providing means of livelihood, community facilities and reconstructing the houses of those displaced by the severe flood got the state cabinet's nod late on Tuesday night.

Vast swathes of north Bihar was flooded this year after water from river Kosi swamped the area following a breach in the embankment at Kusaha in Nepal on August 18.

Cabinet and Coordination Secretary Girish Shanker said the state cabinet cleared the policy which would be implemented by money from Calamity Relief Fund and various other components of Central and state schemes.

For the sucessful implementation of the policy, the state would go for multilateral funding besides involving the private sector and Non-Government Organisations (NGO), Shanker said.

Panchyati Raj institutions and other related institutions would be involved for better implementation of the policy, he said.

The state cabinet also approved Kosi Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Committee headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for sanctioning the schemes and policy matters.

Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, besides ministers of Rural Development, Public Health and Engineering Department, Panchyati Raj, Industry, Health, Human Resources Development, Social Welfare, Road Construction, Disaster Management, Chief Secrtary, Development Commissioner, Principal Secretary of Finance Department and other departmental secretaries would be the members of the committee, Shanker said.

Two technical experts on earthquakes and construction and members of the disaster management authority would also be included as members of the committee.

The committee will also have legislators, MPs and representatives of recognised political parties of five north Bihar districts ravaged by river Kosi as members, the cabinet secretary said.

Bureau Report