PATNA, May 21 -- Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday directed the officials, including the district magistrates (DMs), to get an action plan ready by the month-end to deal with the incidences of drought and floods in the state. The CM gave this direction while reviewing the state of preparedness of various departments to deal with emergencies in the extreme weather conditions. Ministers and executive heads of various departments were present during the meeting. As per the press communique issued by the information and public relations department (I&PRD), the chief minister also directed the officials of water resources department (WRD) and the district magistrates to get the flood protection work completed at the earliest, so that the devastation of floods could be contained to a large extent. Chief minister Nitish Kumar had announced as many as 27 flood protection schemes, costing more than Rs.3,146 crore crores during the Pragati Yatra, which concluded in March this year. The schemes included strengthening of embankments, construction of check dams and barrages and removal of silts to ensure unhindered flow of rivers. "Flood protection work are going on in full swing," said WRD minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary after the review meeting. The Central government has in the annual budget for 2025-26 sanctioned Rs.11,500 crore scheme to build flood control structures through the accelerated irrigation benefit programme and other sources. The projects also include interlinking of Kosi-Mechi rivers and 20 other ongoing and new schemes including barrages, river pollution abatement and irrigation projects. In addition, survey and investigation of Kosi-related flood mitigation and irrigation projects was to be undertaken. In September and October last year, heavy rainfall in Nepal and the subsequent release of water from the Kosi and Gandak from Birpur and Valmiki Nagar barrages led to severe flooding in North Bihar districts. Over 11.84 lakh people were affected due to the floods in 13 districts, including Buxar, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Patna, Samastipur, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Sheikhpura and Kaimur. During the meeting, development commissioner Pratyay Amrit made a presentation to demonstrate the government's state of preparedness to meet any eventuality as per the standard operating procedure (SPO) for floods and drought. Citing the weather forecast by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Amrit said that less than normal rains is expected in the month of June, while normal rain is likely in July, August and September. "Vulnerable districts have been told to arrange sufficient materials and foodgrains for the flood situation," informed the development commissioner. WRD principal secretary Santosh Kumar Mall informed that anti-erosion work at 394 spots in all major river basins of Ganga, Kosi, Gandak, Bagmati, Burhi Gandak, Kamla Balan and Mahananda have been carried out this year at the cost of Rs.1,310 crore. "One person has been deputed at each kilometre of the 3,808 km-long embankments for monitoring for damage during the floods. The department has established close coordination with officials of Nepal for authentic and reliable management of floods from rivers originating from the neighbouring country," said Mall. The agriculture department has also been asked to arrange sufficient seeds for alternative cropping in case of deficient rainfall during the monsoon. The department had last year encouraged farmers to go for alternate cropping, as the state received about 29% deficient rain in the last monsoon seasons. The department is also doling out incentives to promote climate resilient agriculture in different parts of the state....