scorecardresearch
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomeIndiaBihar minister writes to Centre seeking solution for Ganga siltation

Bihar minister writes to Centre seeking solution for Ganga siltation

Follow Us :
Text Size:

Patna, Feb 8 (PTI) Highlighting the perennial problem of floods faced by the people of Bihar due to silt accumulation on the Ganga riverbed, state Water Resources Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha on Tuesday wrote to Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal seeking appropriate action to solve the problem, which, he said, further gets aggravated by movement of cargo ships.

In his letter to the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Jha said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had over the years stressed the need to ensure that water in the Ganga flows seamlessly, and the government has also organised conferences to draw attention to the issue, but no step has been taken by the Centre for silt management.

He pointed out that the Farakka barrage has also added to the problem as it diverts the flow of water, and that in turn leads to heavy silt accumulation.

Even after five years of envisaging a comprehensive silt management policy in the state, the Centre has initiated no measure to deal with the problem, he wrote.

“The Ganga spans 445 km in Bihar and the excess accumulation of silt causes floods in several areas of the state almost every year,” said Jha in his letter.

The accumulation of silt near Ismailpur Bindtoli embankment is caused by the turbulence generated by ships, he noted.

Jha said he will soon be taking up the matter with the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.

According to officials, similar requests have been forwarded to the Centre in the past.

The district administration of Bhagalpur had to stop the operation of ships in the Ganga last year, they said, adding the movement of cargo vessels creates waves in the river, posing serious threats to erosion prevention work and flood protection mechanism. PTI PKD RMS RMS

This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

  • Tags

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular