Chapra: On the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan, the architect of the Total Revolution, his village Sitabdiara in Bihar remains submerged under floodwaters, a recurring issue faced by the region. Despite multiple promises and efforts, a 300-meter dam to protect the village has yet to be completed. JP, who was born on October 11, 1902, once expressed hope that the picture of his village would change after his death. However, the reality today is far from that vision.
Sitabdiara is located on the border of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, surrounded by the Ganga and Saryu rivers, making it highly susceptible to floods. Although it is registered under the name Kodraha Naubarar in government records, the area is more commonly known as Sitabdiara. Floods have been a yearly occurrence here, with water entering the village again in late September. This year’s flood was so severe that the wall of the Jayaprakash Narayan Memorial Trust Bhawan, spanning 55 feet, was swept away.
Despite the establishment of the Jai Prakash Narayan Memorial Trust in 1986 and later efforts by leaders like Chandrashekhar Singh, Narayan Dutt Tiwari, and Sharad Pawar, the development of Sitabdiara as a tourist destination has been slow. While basic amenities like roads, electricity, and schools have been set up, the flood problem remains unresolved. The damage to the Trust Bhawan and local crops highlights the ongoing challenges faced by residents.
In 2018, the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar governments launched a joint ring dam project, costing Rs 126 crore, to prevent flooding in the area. While Bihar completed its portion of the dam, work in the Uttar Pradesh section has stalled due to land disputes. Despite efforts from local revenue officials, the issue has not been resolved. Two years ago, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wrote to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, urging the completion of the project, but the situation remains unchanged.
The people of Sitabdiara continue to endure annual flooding, and despite the promises of leaders who rose to power invoking JP’s legacy, the village still awaits relief from the recurring devastation.
