Patna: The Janata Dal (United) will launch the first phase of its ‘Nitish Samvad’ programme on September 5, focusing on issues related to the Farakka Barrage and the Farakka Water Treaty.
JD(U) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha and state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha will jointly lead the dialogue sessions, according to the party.
The programme will be held across 12 districts situated along the Ganga in Bihar. The first phase will cover four districts, beginning with Buxar.
Focus On Farakka And Flooding
Kushwaha said the programme would provide a platform to discuss what the party describes as the adverse effects of the Farakka Barrage and the Farakka Water Treaty on Bihar.
He said the discussions would also focus on the concerns of residents and the impact of the issue on the state’s water resources and agriculture.
According to Kushwaha, Bihar has been bearing the consequences of the Farakka Barrage and the water-sharing arrangement for about three decades.
JD(U) Raises Water Resources Concerns
Kushwaha said Nitish Kumar had repeatedly raised concerns over the impact of the Farakka project on Bihar and advocated for the state’s interests in water-resource matters.
He alleged that large-scale silt accumulation in the Ganga because of the barrage has reduced the river’s depth and water-holding capacity.
The JD(U) state president linked the issue to recurring floods in Bihar, saying they damage standing crops and affect agricultural activity across the state.
The party said the ‘Nitish Samvad’ programme would be conducted in phases across all 12 Ganga-side districts, with further details on subsequent phases expected to be announced later.
