Did the Kosi really change its course this time? Ask the Nepali citizens near Kushaha - where the river breached the embankment - and they would say 'yes', as the Kosi barrage near Hanumannagar (Nepal) was not opened this year for the natural (read man-made) outflow of the swelling river. Even the water resources department (WRD) officials admit that excessive silta-tion has made the Hanumannagar barrage ineffective. The issue of displacement is also being highlighted this time by all the political leaders - be it from the ruling party or from the opposition. While Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar declares this flood a catastrophe, his arch rival Lalu Prasad alleges that the river breached the embankment when the WRD officials were busy in sharing the spoils in the name of earthwork there. Displacement is not a new phenomenon in the flood-devastated terrain of Kosi. Perhaps, the revenue officials of Bihar do not know about Bhawanipur and Bela villages of Madhubani district - which were shifted in the neighbouring Supaul district nearly 15 years ago. Similarly, Babhani, Ganaura and Khusiaii villages of Supaul district could be traced only in Madhubani district. The one question which renders the higher engineering officials virtually deaf and dumb is how this trend of the Kosi changing its course can be checked. "Only by not creating hurdles in the natural path of the river," remarked one engineer, now involved in caution work near the Kataiya hydro-power station. STEP 1: The Kosi enters the Barahkshetra region (terai area), nearly eight kms before it was embanked at Hanumannagar Barrage. STEP 2: Ten kms of both the banks are being maintained as precaution, five km each by India and China. The Indian government spends Rs one crore on an average every year for the safety of five spur 'bunds', while the total expenditure of China in saving its spur bunds amounts in few thousand rupees. SEP 3: The heavy and continuous siltation has virtually filled up the river bed between the eastern and western embankments which virtually compels the river to change its course. STEP 4: Since the Kosi emerges with the Ganges near Kursela in Katihar district, the non-stop outlet is needed to save the endangered division from the flood fury due to waterlogging. But as the gates of the Farakka barrage in West Bengal never open in the peak rainy season, this area is destined to face the wrath of 'Kosi Maiya'.