Bihar Assembly passes budgetary demands for water resources

Patna, Mar 11 (UNI) Bihar Assembly today passed the budgetary demands for allotment of Rs 3888 crore, 33 lakh and 93 thousand for the departments of Water Resources, Minor Water Resources, Sugarcane Industry, Urban and Housing, and Mines and Geology for the next fiscal.

Amid walkout by the Opposition members, Water Resources Minister Ramashray Prasad Singh informed the House that the government was moving strategically to solve the flood menace and water-logging problems.

He said the committee constituted under the leadership of flood expert Nilendu Sanyal had made some viable recomendations to come out with some proper solutions.

Mr Singh also said the old and dilapidated embankments were being upgraded and strengthened as well as the the flood management schemes for all most all major rivers were in progress.

The government was working on the project for uplinking of rivers within the state, the minister informed adding that detailed project report for the purpose was being prepared with the help of the highly skilled technocrats.

''The flood problem is a global issue and the state government was exerting pressure upon the centre to negotiate with Nepal for construction of high dams on the major rivers inclduing Kosi, Bagmatiand Kamla of North Bihar originating from Nepal,'' he said.

Flood Management Information System (FMIS) was also being set up in assistance with the World Bank in Bihar for better flood management.

Outlining the achievements of his department, the minister said that additional irrigation facilities had been provided in 28.63 lakh hectare area and several canals linked with the rivers were modernised for providing better irrigation to the farmers.

Interruping the minister, RJD member Jagdanand Singh questioned about the breach in the embankments even without the water lever crossing the danger mark.

The RJD members shouted anti-government slogans and walked out of the state Assembly.

LJP member Maheshwar Prasad Singh also raised the matter of contruction of canals and later he along with his party members and the members of other Opposition parties staged walkout of the Lower House.

The minister in his reply assured the House to complete the Durgawati Dam project, North Koyal project and Barnar project.

Later the Lower House pased the budegtary demands of Rs 24,71,45,00,000 for the water resources department, Rs 3,12,62,52,000 for minor water resources, Rs 43,12,54,000 for sugarcane industry development, Rs 10,51,83,50,000 for the urban development and housing and Rs 9,30,37,000 for mines and geology department.

UNI RS PP/src1909