Bihar eyes irrigation potential on 779,000 hectares under water to every farm scheme: Minister

Bihar government is working to create irrigation potential in 779,000 hectares of area under its ambitious “water to every farm” scheme, a key component of chief minister Nitish Kumar’s “Seven Resolves (Part-2)” in the present regime, state’s water resources minister Sanjay Kumar Jha said in the Assembly on Wednesday.

Bihar government is working to create irrigation potential in 779,000 hectares of area under its ambitious “water to every farm” scheme, a key component of chief minister Nitish Kumar’s “Seven Resolves (Part-2)” in the present regime, state’s water resources minister Sanjay Kumar Jha said in the Assembly on Wednesday.

Bihar water resource minister Sanjay Kumar Jha. (HT Photo)

Giving the government’s reply on the budgetary demand of ₹4,692.98 crore after two-hour debate, Jha said the statewide technical survey had been completed between January 18-July 29, 2021 and schemes identified for augmenting irrigation potential and ensuring water to every farm in the next four years. The budget was passed with voice vote after Opposition walked out at the fag end.

“The CM has been keen on rejuvenating lost water bodies and ensuring optimal use of surplus water in rivers during floods by diverting them to parched areas as part of the water to every farm initiative. It involves restoring the traditional ‘ahaar-paen’, interlinking of rivers, construction of reservoirs and pipelines and a lot more. Work has already commenced on several projects and schemes. Budgetary provision for schemes has already been made in the 2022-23 budget,” he said, adding the target is to create additional irrigation potential of 143,163 hectares in 2022-23 and restore lost irrigation potential on 211,000 hectares.

The minister said his department was working on rejuvenation of dried-up rivers and intra-linking of small rivers, a new concept given by Bihar 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. Bihar’s Bagmati-Ganga link, Budhi Gandak Noon via Ganga link and Bagmati-Budhi Gamdak link schemes are under the consideration of the central agency,” he said.

The minister said that that at present the state government is working with its own resources on intra-linking of small rivers of Bagmati, Kamla and Kosi Basin in north Bihar and Punpun, Keul-Harohar basin and smaller rivers in south Bihar. “Belwa Dhar scheme in Sitamarhi involving transfer of surplus Bagmati water to Budhi Gandak has already shown a lot of potential. It is the first state intra-linking project and set to be completed this year. The Kosi-Mechi river link project is also moving forward after getting all clearances from the Centre. It has been included in the national project, which will ensure 60% funding from the Centre. However, we want it to be Centre-State sharing on 90:10 basis and we have written in this regard, citing Ken-Betwa project. The project cost was estimated at ₹4900 crore in 2016 and would go further up. It will be a game changer for four Seemanchal districts of Purnia, Katihar, Kishanganj and Araria,” he said.

Jha said that the rubber dam project on the Falgu river, inaugurated by the CM on September 22, 2020, is heading towards completion and once completed, it would ensure round-the-year water availability near the famous Vishnupad temple, which draws lakhs of devotees every year. “The government wants to complete it before Pitripaksh Mela and it should be achieved by August 2022, though the scheduled deadline was October 2023. The ‘Ganga Jal Apoorti Yojana’ under the ambitious ‘Jal-Jeevan-Hadiyali’ initiative for environmental protection is set to be completed by June this year despite its extension to include Nawada with Gaya, Bodh Gaya and Rajgir, ” he said.

Listing other major initiatives, Jha said the western Kosi canal project would create additional irrigation potential of 265,000 hectares in Darbhanga and Madhubani and it is being expanded. “The work on the ₹405-crore barrage in Jaynagar has also started and is likely to be completed next year. The work on the strengthening of left and right embankment of Kamla Balan is also on. It will save a large area of Mithila from the scourge of flood and create irrigation potential,” he said.