Phase 1 of Bihar’s first river interlinking project near complete in Sheohar

The first phase of Bihar’s first river interlinking project, Belwa Dhar scheme in Sheohar district, which involves transfer of surplus water from Bagmati river to Budhi Gandak river through head regulator and construction of embankment on both sides of the channel, is near completion, state’s water resources minister Sanjay Jha said.

This is part of the Bihar government’s ambitious plan for rejuvenation of dried-up rivers and intra-linking of small rivers, a new concept given by the state in place of inter-linking of rivers, which will not only help in flood mitigation, but also create irrigation potential.

“It was due to Bihar’s efforts that the National Water Development Authority (NWDA) has now been entrusted to work on intra-linking of rivers also,” said Jha, who was with chief minister Nitish Kumar during his inspection of state’s big projects, including rejuvenation of the old course of Lakhandei river in Sitamarhi district, during the last couple of days.

Lakhandei river, once the lifeline of Sitamarhi but later lost to encroachment and garbage dumps, has also been revived.

On Friday, Kumar went to see the progress of desilting and link channel work in Khan village of Sonbarsa block of the district for rejuvenating the old course of the river. With water in the link channel, the CM asked the district magistrate to open it. The water soon started gushing through the three-km channel.

The state government had earlier announced in the Legislative Assembly that it was working to create irrigation potential in 779,000 hectares of area under its ambitious “water to every farm” scheme, a key component of government’s ‘Seven Resolves (Part-2)’, through a slew of initiatives.

While Lakhandei river rejuvenation will provide irrigation facility to 2,539 hectares of land in Sonbarsa, Bathnaha, Simarahi and Runnisaidpur blocks, the Belha dam project would have direct impact on 4.39 lakh hectares of area in Sheohar, Sitamarhi and East Champaran districts. “This will not only ensure optimal use of surplus water in rivers during floods by diverting them to parched areas as part of the government’s water to every farm initiative, but also provide relief from the annual scourge of inundation,” said Jha, adding the state government was hopeful of getting adequate central assistance to give a fillip to other river interlinking projects.

One of the major projects is the Kosi-Mechi river link project, viewed as game changer for four Seemanchal districts of Purnea, Katihar, Kishanganj and Araria. It has got all the clearances from the Centre. It has been included in the national project, which will ensure 60% funding from the Centre, but Bihar has been batting for Centre-State sharing on 90:10 basis, as is the case with Ken-Betwa project. The project cost was estimated at Rs 4900 crore in 2016 and would go further up.