OREANDA-NEWS. August 26, 2015. Union Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Sushri Uma Bharti has said that Government of India has held fruitfull talks with government of Nepal to find ways of reducing the severity of flood in the State to a major extent. Accordingly, there has been remarkable progress in the construction of SaptKosi high dam.She said,I am sure that once the construction is over, Bihar will get a reprieve from drought as well as the flurry of floods in future.

Talking tomedia persons here in New Delhi the Minister said that still in some areas flood relief majors are urgently needed for the protection from flood. For this all the proposals sent by Bihar Government under which nearly 7 Lakh hectare area will be given protection benefiting nearly 132 Lakh population of the State have been approved.

She said taking notice of the religious sentiments of the people of Bihar and their sentiments attached with river Ganga necessary measures have already been initiated for the revival of the river.

 The Minister said keeping in view the plight of population in the State for the forced  consumptions of  arsenic contaminated water, the Central Ground Water Board has constructed 28 deep bore wells in Biharto provide arsenic free water and have handed over them to the State health engineering department. This steps has received overwhelming accolade and support from the people there as there are now saved from the hazardous effects of arsenic 

Sushri Uma Bharti further said her Ministry accords highest priority to the interest of Bihar Government and settles differences emerging during the inter-State meetings. Efforts are on for the supply of pure drinking water to Bihar State from the Rihand dam. Also steps are on for the timely construction of upper Mahananda projects. These are all inter-States projects and mutual consent is a must for their completion. This will also help the State to a great extent. The Minister further said that for the all-round development of the State, our national Water Development Authority is working steadfastly and a major scheme for Kosi-Mechi and Burhee-Gandak Ganga link project has been chalked out for the implementation.These projects will benefit farmers of Bihar residing in nearly 3.30 Lakh square hectare area. Project on Burhee-Gandak will reduce 492 cusec flood.

Status of irrigation projects in Bihar

At present there are two ongoing Major/Medium Irrigation Projects under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) in the State of Bihar.

Punpun Barrage project

The project is situated in Aurangabad district of Bihar which envisages construction of Head Works and Canal System will cover CCA of 13680 ha.

 

Durgawati Reservoir Project

The Durgawati Reservoir Project is spread in Kaimur and Rohtas districts of Bihar.This project covers 9190 ha of drought prone area and 23277 ha of non-drought prone area.During 2014-15, proposal for release of Central grant of Rs.38.75 has been received and approved by the Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation

Command Area Development and Water Management programme

The main objective of the programme is to enhance utilisation of irrigation potential created and improve agricultural productivity and production on a sustainable basis through integrated and coordinated approach involving multi-disciplinary team.  Under the programme, financial assistance is provided by the Central Government to the state government in the form of grant. The central assistance released to the State of Bihar during 2014-15 was Rs.39 crore.

Namami Gange

14 projects have been given sanction in Bihar under National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) for an estimated project cost of Rs.2155.63 Crore which includes 13 projects on Sewerage Network and Treatment Plants with a sanctioned cost of Rs.1912.36 crore in Buxar, Begusarai, Munger, Hajipur and Patna. In addition, project on River Front Development at Patna with a sanctioned cost of Rs.243.27 crore which will include development of 20 ghats and 6.6 km of promenade along River Ganga is under construction. 

Another 26 projects on Interception and Diversion and STP with tentative cost of Rs.1968 crore and 4 River Front Development projects with tentative estimated project cost of Rs.200 crore under various stages of DPR preparation.  With these projects all the towns of Bihar will be covered for pollution abatement along River Ganga.

NWDA

Inter Basin Water Transfer (IBWT) links of following 5 links are concerned with State of Bihar:-

a)      Manas-Sankosh-Tista-Ganga link

b)      Kosi-Mechi link

c)      Kosi-Ghaghara link

d)     Chunar-Sone Barrage link

e)      Sone Dam-Southern Tributaries of Ganga link

Pre-feasibility report of all above five links have been completed.  Preparation of Feasibility report is in progress.

Nine intra-state link proposals were received from Bihar and pre-feasibility report of six links have already been completed and communicated to Government of Bihar.  NWDA completed DPR of two Intra-State link of Burhi Gandak-Noon-Baya-Ganga and Kosi-Mechi link and submitted to Bihar.