Patna: The Bihar State Cabinet has approved the Rs 4,415 crore Bihar Water Security and Irrigation Modernization Project (BWISMP), in collaboration with the World Bank, to address the challenges of floods and modernize irrigation management across the state. The project aims to enhance irrigation efficiency, build institutional capacity, and improve flood risk management.
It also seeks to strengthen disaster preparedness, promote stakeholder coordination, and boost both economic and social resilience. Districts affected by floods, waterlogging, and drought across the state will be prioritized, with measures such as restoring depleted irrigation capacity, regulating excess river flow, and upgrading dam infrastructure using modern technology.
The proposed project is externally funded, with a total estimated cost of Rs 4,415 crore. Of this, 30% (Rs 1,324.50 crore) will be contributed by the Government of Bihar, while the remaining 70% (Rs 3,090.50 crore) will be financed through a loan from the World Bank (IBRD).
The project comprises four main components with the following allocations: Rs 2,487 crore for climate-resilient irrigation, Rs 1,525 crore for flood risk reduction, Rs 243 crore for water governance, and Rs 160 crore for project management. Implementation will be carried out by the Water Resources Department (as the nodal department), along with the Rural Development and Agriculture Departments of the Government of Bihar. The project is scheduled to commence in the financial year 2025–26 and will be completed over a period of seven years.
Irrigation systems to be upgraded
The project aims to upgrade and modernize key irrigation systems to reduce dependency on rainfall and ensure reliable irrigation for farmers, even in adverse conditions. Major initiatives include the rehabilitation of the Son, Gandak, and Kosi barrages; modernization of the Son Western Main Canal and Western Kosi irrigation systems; rehabilitation of the Jhanjharpur branch canal; and renovation and lining of the Saran Main Canal between 17.00 km and 35.00 km.
Project to minimize flood risk
The project also includes the rehabilitation and strengthening of embankments and spurs identified for flood risk reduction, using advanced design technologies developed in consultation with World Bank experts. Key initiatives include elevation, strengthening, and paving of the left embankment of the Bagmati River; anti-erosion work from Patyartola to Kamalakani in Kursela Block, Katihar district; strengthening and paving of the extended Sikarhatta-Manjhari dam, including renovation of 11 spurs; and renovation of 25 spurs along the Eastern Kosi embankment.
