A Public Interest Litigation was filed on Tuesday in the Patna high court seeking a judicial inquiry into the 'construction of low quality embankments' which breached under pressure of floodwaters devastating large areas of human habitation and cropland in Bihar.

The PIL filed by Advocate M P Gupta on behalf of NGO, Council for Protection of Public Rights, urged the court to order a judicial inquiry into construction of "low-quality embankments" that did not withstand the pressure of flood waters and breached due to which the flood situation had turned grim in 19 north Bihar districts.

It demanded punishment for those involved in construction of 'low-quality embankments'.

It also prayed that the court give directions to the Centre and the Bihar government to find a permanent solution to recurring floods in the state.

The petition also referred to relevant sections of Panchayati Raj Act, 1993, which empowered the panchayat, panchayat samiti and zila parishad to distribute relief during natural calamities, which it prayed for.