Patna: In a significant step towards putting Bihar on the development map, Nitish Kumar's ruling government is to start interlinking rivers in the state.
The move, officials said, will not only solve the perennial problem of floods — which are an annual phenomenon in the state — but will also create irrigation opportunities, a necessity to increase agricultural production.
The past five years have seen huge destruction of crops either by floods or droughts.
Authorities said that the first such project concerning the interlinking of the Burhi Gandak river with Noon, Baya and Ganga rivers would start by mid 2011-12. The total estimated cost of this project is above Rs4 billion.
Advanced stages
"The pre-feasibility report of the scheme has already been cleared by the department and the preparation for the detailed project report is in advanced stage," Bihar's Water Resources Department Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said.
Stating that the National Water Development Agency of the Federal government was the project consultant, the minister said that he expected to complete this ambitious project in a couple of years or so.
The move, officials said, will not only solve the perennial problem of floods — which are an annual phenomenon in the state — but will also create irrigation opportunities, a necessity to increase agricultural production.
The past five years have seen huge destruction of crops either by floods or droughts.
Authorities said that the first such project concerning the interlinking of the Burhi Gandak river with Noon, Baya and Ganga rivers would start by mid 2011-12. The total estimated cost of this project is above Rs4 billion.
Advanced stages
"The pre-feasibility report of the scheme has already been cleared by the department and the preparation for the detailed project report is in advanced stage," Bihar's Water Resources Department Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said.
Stating that the National Water Development Agency of the Federal government was the project consultant, the minister said that he expected to complete this ambitious project in a couple of years or so.
