Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said utilisation of funds of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Emeployment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) will go a long away in mitigating flood situation in Bihar if the Centre consented to it.

"The flood situation (in Bihar) has aggravated as the rivers break embankments collapse marooning large tracts of land causing collateral damages .... It will help to migitate the flood situation if local people are allowed to construct dams by using MNREGA funds," he said at a function to mark the release of a book titled 'Leveraging MNREGA for Flood Control: A case for Police Reform in Bihar'.

There should be a provision in MNREGA to allow use of its funds for construction of dams to prevent flow of river water beyond the embankment areas to minimize collateral damage by the flood water, Kumar said on Wednesday.

The Centre should consider making a provision in MNREGA to allow the local gram sabha to take on-the-spot decisions for remedial works in the event of natural calamities by building dam or undertake repair works to prevent flooding of flood water to their habitation, he said.

Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, who was also present, appreciated his suggestions.

Kumar also suggested that there should be a coordination between MNREGA scheme and the state government's flood prevention programmes under which preliminary works should be allowed to be done by local people to prevent aggravation of floods.

He suggested a long-term plan to contain flood in Bihar and proposed setting up of a task force headed by the development commissioner. The civil society and the media should be co-opted in the formulation of programmes.

Kumar also stressed the need for micro planning at the district and grassroot levels for mitigation of flood in Bihar.