Ambitious river-linking project launched in Bihar

GROUND WORK ALREADY STARTED ON EIGHT PROJECTS
ALSO AIMS TO CREATE ADDITIONAL IRRIGATION FACILITY

June 3, 2011, Patna: The Nitish Kumar government has embarked on an ambitious plan to interlink rivers to solve the perennial flood problem and augment irrigation facilities. Ground work has already started on eight projects, of which five relate to tackling of floods, two to create additional irrigation facility and the last a hydel power plant, the state water resource department's principal secretary Afjal Amanullah said. Amanullah said that the first such project envisaging interlinking of the Burhi Gandak river with Noon, Baya and Ganga rivers would start by mid-2011-12. The total estimated cost for the project is above 4 billion and it will come in handy in optimally utilising its water resources, Bihar Water Resources Minister Vijay Chaudhary said. "The pre-feasibility report for the project is ready and a Detailed Project Report is being prepared by the National Water Development Authority," Chaudhary said. Another project at hand is the interlinking of the Koshi and Mechi rivers