Patna, Aug 24: Rising water levels in the Ganga have breached two dams in Bihar’s Bhagalpur and Begusarai districts, prompting repair, relief and rescue operations even as Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary hit out at RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav over the 1996 India-Bangladesh water agreement.
The breaches occurred at Raghopur in Bhagalpur and Bachhwara in Begusarai, with floodwaters flowing into low-lying areas. However, officials said water had not yet entered populated areas.
The damaged structure in Begusarai is the Zamindari Dam, while Water Resources Department teams, engineers and senior officials have been deployed to undertake repairs and monitor the situation.
“Due to the sudden rise in water, dams broke in Raghopur in Bhagalpur and Bachhwara in Begusarai,” Chaudhary said.
He said the administration was closely monitoring the Ganga’s water level and vulnerable areas and taking steps to minimise the impact on residents.
“The government is trying to ensure that the minimum number of people are affected,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Chaudhary criticised Lalu Prasad over his remarks on the Farakka Barrage and the India-Bangladesh water treaty.
He pointed out that the agreement was signed in December 1996, when Lalu Prasad was the chief minister of Bihar and H D Deve Gowda was the prime minister.
“At that time, Lalu Yadav was the Chief Minister of Bihar and HD Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister,” Chaudhary said, adding that the RJD was also part of the central government then.
“It is unfair to hold Nitish Kumar responsible for that agreement today,” he said.
According to Chaudhary, Bihar’s interests were ignored when the agreement was signed and the state is now facing its consequences.
“Bihar’s interests were ignored at that time, and the state is suffering the consequences today,” he said.
The minister said the 1996 agreement is nearing expiry and discussions on its renewal have begun. A Bihar delegation led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has also presented the state’s concerns before Union ministers in Delhi.
Chaudhary stressed that Bihar’s interests must be given priority in any future arrangement, arguing that the state is particularly affected by the Farakka agreement and increasing siltation in the Ganga.
“Bihar’s interests should be prioritized during any future renewal of the agreement,” he said.
He also flagged rising silt accumulation in the Ganga and other rivers of Bihar as a major concern, saying it is reducing their water-holding capacity and changing river channels.
“The accumulation of silt in the rivers is affecting their water-holding capacity and changing the river’s appearance,” Chaudhary said.
The state has sought Central assistance for scientific silt management and a long-term solution to the problem.
“Bihar needs central government assistance in silt management,” the minister said, adding that serious consideration should be given to plans that can provide a permanent solution to silt accumulation in rivers.
