Water Resources Development Minister Seeks Centre’s Help in Intra-Linking of Bihar Rivers for Flood Control

PATNA: Bihar’s Water Resources Development (WRD) and Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD) Minister, Sanjay Kumar Jha, participated in the 37th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) and the 21st meeting of the Special Committee for Inter-Linking of Rivers (SCILR) on December 14 through video conferencing.

The meeting, chaired by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, focused on river linking projects, with specific attention to the Kosi-Mechi river linking project in Bihar.

Minister Jha highlighted the dual challenge faced by Bihar—floods in the northern region due to river overtopping in Nepal and drought in the southern part. The NWDA committed to providing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Kosi-Mechi River Linking Project by March 2024.

Emphasizing the project’s importance, Jha proposed a funding pattern of 60% (Central share), 30% (Central loan), and 10% (State share) for the Kosi-Mechi project. He suggested that the state’s share could be obtained as a loan from the World Bank if the funding pattern is accepted. The project aims to address flooding issues and provide irrigation facilities to 2.14 lakh hectares of land in bordering districts.

Minister Jha also discussed the Government’s consideration of intra-linking the Kosi (Bagmati)-Ganga and connecting Burhi Gandak-Ganga via Noon river. He sought approval for these projects under the Flood Management Program (FMP). Additionally, he presented ongoing linking projects such as Bagmati Burhi Gandak (Belwa Dhar), Bagmati-Burhi Gandak (Shanti Dhar), and Gandak-Akali Nala (Chhadi)-Gandak Mahi-Ganga river.

A proposal has been submitted to include Bagmati Burhi Gandak (Belwa Dhar) and Bagmati-Burhi Gandak (Shanti Dhar) river linking schemes under the Flood Management Programme (FMP) to the Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC).

Minister Jha stressed the need for intra-linking of the Bagmati, Kamla, and Kosi Basins in North Bihar and Punpun, Kiul Harohar Basin to control floods and expand irrigation areas.

Highlighting Bihar’s stakeholder status in the Ganga river basin, Jha asserted that any plan prepared by upper riparian states in the Ganga river basin should seek the opinion of the Bihar government.

Furthermore, projects like Brahmaputra-Ganga, Kosi-Ghaghara, Gandak-Ganga, Chunar-Son Barrage, Son Dam-Ganga’s southern tributaries, Ghaghara-Yamuna, Sharada-Yamuna, Yamuna-Rajasthan, and Rajasthan-Sabarmati link directly or indirectly affect Bihar. Minister Jha emphasized that Bihar’s opinion should be mandatory in reports related to these linking projects.

Acknowledging the significant annual expenditure on flood protection, canal construction, and relief work, Minister Jha expressed that achieving long-term solutions through river linking projects would not only contribute to the state’s development but also provide irrigation facilities in vast areas. He also requested the strengthening of the NWDA’s regional office in Patna.

The meeting included Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Bishweswar Tudu, Chairman of Central Water Commission Kushvinder Vohra, Chairman of the Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers Sriram Vedire, along with ministers and officials from various states. Additional Chief Secretary, WRD, Chaitanya Prasad, and other officials were present in the meeting at Sinchai Bhavan, Patna.