Gandak- Ganga River Link Scheme

• 01 Jul 2023

Why In News?

On June 29, 2023, Bihar's Information and Public Relations cum Water Resources Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha told that the Gandak-Ganga river link scheme to be started on the instructions of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will prove to be a boon for Gopalganj, Siwan and Saran districts of the state.

Key Points:

• In this scheme, starting from Gandak river near Hirapakad in Gopalganj district to Ganga river near Haispur in Saran district, a total of 170 km. Long link channel will be constructed. This includes sectioning and digging operations.
• Also, kms of Saran embankment. Anti flood sluice with 4 ports will be constructed as per the prescribed design at 139.59. The estimated amount of the scheme is Rs 69 crore 89 lakh 79 thousand.
• Residents of blocks like Gopalganj, Manjha, Barauli in Gopalganj district, Badharia, Goriyakothi, Maharajganj, Daronda in Siwan district and Dighwara, Sonpur, Khaira, Nagra, Baniapur, Madhaura etc. in Saran district will be benefited by this river linking scheme.
• Improvement in ground water level in these areas and also in terms of environmental balance will prove to be an important scheme.
• It is known that no high dam has been built in Nepal. Until the high dam is built, the water of the rivers of Bihar cannot be controlled. If a high dam is built in Nepal, then most of the areas of Kosi, Kamla, Bagmati, Gandak river in Bihar will become flood-free.
• Irrigation capacity will be increased by increasing the number of canals originating from Valmiki Nagar barrage of Gandak river in West Champaran district of the state. The Water Resources Department will prepare a plan after assessing it. Its purpose is to make maximum use of Gandak river water for irrigation. Along with this, it will also provide protection from the floods that occur every year in the Gandak river.
• At present, there is irrigation potential of about 11.50 lakh hectare in seven districts of Bihar through the canals coming out of this barrage.
• It is known that the maximum discharge capacity of Valmiki Nagar barrage is about 8.50 lakh cusecs, the maximum discharge from this barrage till date was about 6 lakh 19 thousand 750 cusecs on July 31, 2003.
• This barrage was constructed in 1967-68. Its length is about 739 meters. Half of it is in Nepal. It has 52 gates, 18 real ways, 12 under sluices, 8 river sluices, 18 head regulator gates.