Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday reviewed the progress of the project to revive an old stream of the Ganga river from Ghansurpur Ghat to Dedoor Ghat in Bakhtiyarpur block and directed officials to accelerate the work to ensure its completion before the monsoon.
During the review, held at the project site, Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department, Santosh Kumar Mall, briefed the chief minister on the status of the initiative, which aims to restore the 4,420-metre-long channel by removing accumulated silt and carrying out protective works to prevent erosion.
“The work must be expedited so that it is completed before the rains set in,” CM Nitish told officials. “Once completed, the development will greatly benefit visitors to Seedhi Ghat and the surrounding areas.”
The revival project, which has received administrative approval of Rs 34.27 crore, also includes geo-bag slope pitching over 1,520 metres to safeguard the banks near inhabited villages such as Ghansurpur, Karauta and Hatia. Provision has been made for the channel’s maintenance for three years to ensure continuous water flow.
The scheme also involves land acquisition for the construction of an approach road connecting the under-construction Seedhi Ghat temple and the nearby JMT school.
Later, the chief minister visited Seedhi Ghat to inspect the progress of the bank protection and development works underway on the right bank of the Ganga channel in Bakhtiyarpur.
Under this separate project, with an administrative approval of Rs 56.06 crore, a 330-metre staircase is being constructed at Seedhi Ghat. In addition, anti-erosion measures such as PP rope gabion toe walls and geo-bag slope pitching are being implemented over a total stretch of 2,100 metres—1,100 metres upstream and 1,000 metres downstream of the ghat. A pathway is also being laid out alongside other amenities including public toilets, a changing room, landscaping and a lighting system. The target for completion is June 2025.
CM Nitish also offered prayers at the Shri Radhe Krishna Temple at Seedhi Ghat, seeking peace, prosperity and happiness for the state. He paid floral tributes at the memorial of freedom fighter and former MP Pandit Sheelbhadra Yaji and his wife Balkeshwari Yaji.
Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Deepak Kumar, Secretary to the Chief Minister Kumar Ravi, Patna Divisional Commissioner Chandrashekhar Singh, Patna District Magistrate Thiyagarajan SM, Senior Superintendent of Police Avkash Kumar and other dignitaries and senior officials from the Water Resources Department accompanied the chief minister during the visit.
