Patna: With monsoon rainfall 30% below average across many regions of Bihar, the Water Resources Department has launched an urgent statewide campaign to ensure irrigation water reaches even the remotest ends of canal systems.
Between June 1 and July 30, the state received just 343 mm of rainfall against the normal 489 mm, raising serious concerns for kharif crops. In response, the department has mobilised executive engineers to directly engage with farmers, assess local needs, and swiftly resolve barriers to water supply.
Principal Secretary Santosh Kumar Mall said all engineers have been instructed to ensure canal water flows to the last end in command areas, particularly in South Bihar districts like Gaya, Rohtas, Patna, Aurangabad, and Kaimur. These areas, where canal infrastructure is relatively robust, are being prioritised for sustained irrigation support.
To address farmers’ concerns, special meetings were organised at the regional level where farmers shared challenges such as silt accumulation, overgrowth of trees, and damaged canal structures. Contact details of farmers were collected to enable direct communication and faster response from department headquarters.
Mall reiterated that no negligence in canal operations would be tolerated and assured that strong measures are being taken to resolve structural issues impeding irrigation.
Farmers in Biharsharif, under the Executive Engineer Irrigation Division, confirmed that water had reached the tail ends of most canals and expressed gratitude. However, they demanded permanent structural solutions and highlighted specific local bottlenecks.
