Patna: Bihar’s Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, today undertook an on‑site review of the major restoration project to bring the old channel of the Ganga back to life in Bakhtiyarpur block, Patna district. Stretching 4.42 km between Ghansurpur Ghat and Dedoor Ghat in Lakhanpura, the scheme involves desilting, bank protection and three years’ maintenance to secure water flow.
Accompanied by Water Resources principal secretary Santosh Kumar Mall and senior officials, Kumar instructed that all work be pushed to completion before the imminent monsoon. “The sooner we finish, the better prepared our communities will be,” he said, stressing the importance of the Seedhi Ghat development for local residents.
Under a Rs 34.28 crore administrative sanction, geo‑bag slope pitching will protect 1.52 km of vulnerable right‑bank areas around Ghansurpur, Karauta and Hatia villages. Land acquisition is under way for a connecting path near the under‑construction Seedhi Ghat temple and the JMT school. The deadline for this phase is May 2025.
Nitish Kumar then inspected progress on the 330 m staircase ghat and adjacent anti‑erosion works on the right bank. Here, Rs 56.06 crore has been approved to build 2.1 km of pathway—1.1 km upstream and 1 km downstream of the staircase—along with public toilets, a bathing room, landscaping and lighting. This work is due for completion by June 2025.
Before departing, the Chief Minister offered prayers at the Shri Radhe Krishna Temple at Seedhi Ghat, invoking “happiness, peace and prosperity for the state.” He also paid tribute to freedom fighter and former MP Pandit Sheelbhadra Yaji and his wife Balkeshwari Yaji at their samadhi.
Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, district magistrate Dr Chandrashekhar Singh, local leaders and department officials joined the inspection.
