Bihar Seeks Central Nod for Rs 6,650 Crore Flood Control Schemes

Bihar Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Wednesday, requesting early approval for flood control schemes worth Rs 6,650.33 crore.

The minister's plea comes in the wake of the historic floods that ravaged Bihar earlier this year, causing widespread destruction and displacement. Chaudhary was accompanied by JD(U) working president and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha.

In a letter submitted to Sitharaman, Chaudhary recalled the Finance Minister's announcement in the Budget Speech of 2024-25, where she stated that the central government would provide Rs 11,500 crore to Bihar for flood management, barrage construction, and irrigation projects.

Chaudhary highlighted the unprecedented rainfall in Nepal between September 27 and 30, 2024, which caused record-breaking water levels in major rivers, including the Gandak, Bagmati, Koshi, and Mahananda. He noted that floodwaters breached embankments over long stretches, revealing vulnerabilities in the existing infrastructure.

The minister attributed the rising threat of floods to climate change, which has led to increased rainfall in Nepal, and the continuous accumulation of silt in rivers, reducing their water storage capacity.

To mitigate the flood threat, Chaudhary urged Sitharaman to approve the proposed flood control schemes worth Rs 6,650.33 crore in the first phase. He emphasized that timely approval would enable the implementation of these crucial schemes without delay, strengthening Bihar's flood management infrastructure.

The state government has already submitted Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) worth Rs 2,147.58 crore under the River Management in Border Area (RMBA) program and Rs 4,502.75 crore under the Flood Management Programme (FMP) to the Ministry of Jal Shakti.