Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday inaugurated a scheme in Nalanda district, under which, flood waters will be treated for supply to households in the southern part of the state.
After the inauguration of the Ganga Water Supply Scheme (GWSS) in Rajgir, he said the project has been developed keeping in view the requirements in the four towns of southern Bihar region for the next 50 years.
A total of 135 litres per person will be provided through the project, he added.
“It should be enough. Seeing the impact of this project, I will also plan something on similar lines for Patna also, which is situated on the banks of the Ganga. In a few months, Ganga water will also reach Nawada. All the four South Bihar towns will use Ganga water during the flood season and store it to tackle drinking water woes in the region,” he added.
He said that the project had been envisaged as part of the “Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali” project in 2020 in view of the water woes in the region.
“Now, avoid using borewells for drinking water as you will get Gangaajal through your taps. You can drink and also take bath in Gangajal daily. It will also reach all the temples and Nalanda University. This project will also help in ground water recharge for agriculture. I have done a lot for Rajgir, which is a confluence of several religions. Its springs will also come alive,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}“Now, avoid using borewells for drinking water as you will get Gangaajal through your taps. You can drink and also take bath in Gangajal daily. It will also reach all the temples and Nalanda University. This project will also help in ground water recharge for agriculture. I have done a lot for Rajgir, which is a confluence of several religions. Its springs will also come alive,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}He, however, lamented that the Centre had not accepted a proposal for an airport in Rajgir.
The state’s water resources minister, Sanjay Kumar Jha, said that floodwaters will be lifted through pumps at Hathidah and transported through a 151-kilometre pipeline to three enormous reservoirs in Rajgir, Tetar, and Gaya. From there the water will travel to two Water Treatment Plants (WTP), where it is treated and transported to the cities.
“These three South Bihar cities of Rajgir, Gaya, and Bodh Gaya have been experiencing water shortage due to excessive groundwater extraction via borewells. It is a historic day for Bihar and the Nitish Kumar has been involved with it right from conceptualisation to implantation stage. He thinks ahead of time and the project is a testimony to his foresight and commitment to make people’s life better,” he added.
Deputy CM Tejaswhi Prasad Yadav said that the GWSS was a testimony to the vision of Nitish Kumar, whose actions speak louder than words and achieve the improbable”. Finance minister Vijay Kunar Choudhary said that by bringing Ganga water to the people, Nitish Kumar had done what people could not even imagine.
The estimated cost of the project is ₹4500 crore. Officials privy to developments said work on the Nawada phase is also underway and is expected to be completed by June.