Updated on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 00:00 IST

Patna, Feb 18: Former Bihar Chief Minister and senior JD(U) leader Jagannath Mishra on Wednesday praised the government for constructing coffer dam to bring the river Kosi back to its original course but said that earth work to plug the breach at Kusaha was not satisfactory.

Only 38 percent of earth work has been completed so far, Mishra, national president of Human Rights Protection Foundation, told reporters here after visiting Kosi breach site.

Out of six spurs to be constructed at breach site, earth work on only four spurs have been started whereas on two it was yet to be taken up besides, the boulder pitching on the embankment was also not up to the mark.

If the work was not taken on war-footing it would be difficult to complete the breach plugging work by March end, Mishra said.

Mishra said that two lakh families of the flood affected area were yet to get any relief material from the government.

The state government has not sent the detailed project report (DPR) till date with regard to its demand of Rs 14,800 crore for rehabilitation and reconstruction work which was causing delay in the release of money from the Centre, he said.

Mishra also demanded from both Centre and state government to provide relief to the people of flood affected areas.

Mishra appealed to the state government to continue with the distribution of one quintal of foodgrains to each affected family per month till the reaping of next crop.

He demanded a compensation of Rs two lakh to the kin of every family.

The government should also provide assistance of Rs 45,000 per hectare to those families whose crops have been destroyed in the flood.

Bureau Report