Embankments built to tame the mighty river Kosi in 1955 gave rise to umpteen issues for the land and the people living in the basin area. Communities here face an ongoing battle with the greatly altered environment, of which waterlogging still continues as a persistent cause of concern for them, their agriculture needs and their cattle rearing capabilities. Many schemes were carried out to drain out the unwanted water, but the problem of waterlogging has only increased here. This waterlogging makes the soil saline, reducing the fertility of the land; plays a role in the deteriorating health of the community, affects marine life, influences the water quality of the region and has had a major impact on the livelihoods of the people who live here. And after the government's green signal in 2004 to go ahead with the Golden Quadrilateral Highway Network Project, and with the consequent construction of the Mahasetu and other guide embankments over the Kosi river, this deplorable situation has only worsened. The embankment seems to have washed away the foundation over which livelihoods were once built and flourished.