Bihar’s interests must be considered in the Ganga Water Treaty: Samrat Choudhary
The CM mentioned that Bihar’s rivers hold immense potential for the State, and through the proper management of their water and silt, new opportunities can be created in agriculture, industry, infrastructure, and employment
Bihar's Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary, emphasized on Friday that the interests of the state must be prioritized in discussions surrounding the Ganga Water Treaty and the Farakka Treaty. He made these remarks during a seminar organized by the State Water Resources Department, focusing on "Ganga Water Treaty: Water Security of Bihar".
Choudhary stressed that sufficient water availability is vital for Bihar's overall development, including agriculture and industrial growth. The state requires water for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes.
The Chief Minister highlighted that a 25-year dispute between Bihar and Jharkhand over Sone River water-sharing has been resolved with the help of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, ensuring Bihar receives three-fourths (3/4) of the water. He also noted the approval of an MOU between the Water Resources Department (WRD) and the National Highway Authority of India (NIH) for the "Flood Plain Zone Delineation Study".
This agreement includes allocating 115 acres of land for a sugar mill and 151.58 acres for other industries, along with ₹12 crore for the "Bihar State Games 2026".
Choudhary acknowledged this as a significant step toward better management of Bihar's water resources. He further announced the formulation of a State-level policy for 'Silt Management', which will involve scientific approaches for the removal and use of silt extracted from the Ganga and other rivers. The state government aims to utilize this silt and soil for public projects such as roads and infrastructure, and an agreement with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is expected soon.
The Chief Minister stressed the importance of embankment construction and strengthening along the Ganga, emphasizing the need for scientific understanding of the river's flow and management. He proposed that experts attending the seminar should conduct an aerial survey of the Ganga to assess its current state, flow, and silt accumulation, which would help in providing effective recommendations.
Choudhary reiterated Bihar's goal to generate employment for one crore people, emphasizing that optimal use of water resources will play a crucial role in achieving this target. He confidently stated that by managing water resources scientifically and with expert guidance, Bihar will progress to new heights of economic prosperity.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
