Koshi Barrage | |
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Kosi Barrage in Nepal
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Official name | Koshi Nepal Barrage |
Location | Sunsari and Saptari districts People's Republic of Nepal |
Coordinates | 26°31′35″N 86°55′37″E / 26.5263°N 86.9269°ECoordinates: 26°31′35″N 86°55′37″E / 26.5263°N 86.9269°E |
Opening date | 1956 |
Operator(s) | Water Resources Development Department of Indo-Nepal Government; Nepal Army and Nepal Police |
Dam and spillways | |
Impounds | Koshi River (largest in Nepal in term of discharge) |
Length | 1,150 metres (3,770 ft) |
Koshi Barrage bridge | |
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Carries | Mahendra Highway |
The Koshi Barrage is a Nepalese flood control sluice across the Koshi River near the International border with India. It was built between 1958 and 1962. It has 56 gates which are controlled by Nepal Army and officers imported from India. Downstream of the barrage near the border with India, Indian government has created an embankment which can create floods and other problems in Nepal.
The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is roughly 3–4 miles north of the Barrage.
In August 2008, the eastern embankments of the Koshi Barrage collapsed, several miles north of the Nepal-India border. The resulting flood left nearly 100,000 people homeless in Nepal and millions in Bihar, India.
The construction of a high dam near the Koshi Barrage has been considered, which would displace approximately 75,000 people due to flooding. Nepal government and the most of Nepalese people are not keen on constructing it.