Patna: CM Samrat Choudhary on Thursday ordered expeditious implementation of solarisation of the agriculture electricity feeder line and the use of solar energy to run state tube wells. He also directed that the long-term strategy be adopted for the risk minimization from the river Kosi, including prioritization of silt removal from its bed and steps for the construction of a new barrage on it.The CM issued his directives at the high-level review meeting held for an update on the implementation of important projects related to the departments of water resources, road construction and energy.With respect to the river Kosi, the CM noted that it has historically been shifting its course and forms a river system of its own with its tributaries. “Instead of confining to the annual flood fighting and management measures a long-term strategy should be adopted for the minimization of the risk arising from it. A holistic approach should be adopted in this regard by treating the Kosi and its tributaries as a multi-district riverine terrain,” he said.In this connection, he asked for paying special attention to silt management and also take the required steps for the construction of a new barrage on the river Kosi. As to the river Gandak, he directed that solar energy plants be established on its embankments. Similarly, he stressed on the strengthening of the embankments on both the sides of the river Ganga, Kosi and Gandak and also on the construction of four-lane roads on the embankments.Further, since the first 100 km length of the river Kosi constitutes its danger zone, there is a need for laying the double piling sheet along its banks. “These measures, if taken, will help in risk minimization and also in the enriching of the area,” he said.In the energy sector, he reviewed the implementation of the PM Kusum Yojana under which solarization of the agriculture feeder line is envisaged.Besides, he also sought an update on the upcoming 3×800 MW Pirpainty thermal power plant and the requirement of equipment for the Banka thermal power plant.The CM also reviewed the status of implementation of the major road projects, and asked the officials to ensure their expeditious implementation. They included the six-lane Bhagalpur-Buxar Expressway that is 348.19 km long, including its 12 km road in UP. Besides, the updates on Ganga-Ambika Path (Bidupur-Dighwara), Narayani Path (Darihara-Dumariaghat) and Vishwamitra Path (Buxar-Ara-Maner) also came under review.Among the senior officials who participated in the review meeting were CM’s principal secretary Deepak Kumar, chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit, road construction department secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal, energy department secretary Ajay Yadav, water resources department secretary Chandrashekhar Singh, CM’s secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh and road development corporation managing director Saurabh Jorwal.
