“Are we going to get relief like this for years? Can’t the government go for permanent solutions to the flooding problem in Terai?” asked a 12-year-old flood victim. And her parent added, “a temporary relief is for today and the next day, it is noway going to be a compensation for the lost lives and property.” This is not an individual question but a wait for the answer by people living on the banks of the Koshi River for years. Flood at and near the banks of Kankai, Koshi, Bagmati, Narayani, and Karnali basins is taking dozens of lives every year and this year is not going to be an exception. With no pre-flood preparedness, like every year, flood victims are going to face the same and perhaps a worse situation this year. But is relief in the form of food, grains, blankets, clothes, temporary housing the best solution that should be practiced  like the Government of Nepal has been doing for many years or is there a better option to save people from the floods?

“It is well known that millions of rupees are invested to save the people and their property during the floods or aftermath of floods to rescue the flood victims but is this a right solution” asked an old man in a flood prone area. This question has been the contemporary topic of discussion. While some opine that relief could be an option for providing instant solution, the majority believe that Nepal needs a permanent solution to the flooding problem. And the solution could be construction of dams and water reservoirs. But the question here is why has the Government of Nepal not been working on a permanent solution and perpetuating temporary solutions since years? It’s not that Nepal does not have monetary support for the flood victims and combating flooding problem but the approach the government has been taking and practicing for years for flooding problem is not a solution at all. It’s just an instant reaction to the problem and not a solution.

Flood preparedness such as construction of dams and water reservoirs, channelizing government support, establishment of legal body and registration, assessment of flood hazards, making provisions for emergency relief and others could be of much help in setting a permanent solution to the flooding problem in Nepal.

Although several initiatives are taken by local people and government to combat flooding problem in Terai  such as indigenous local coping measures to survive the floods and inundation, rescue and relief.