Patna: CM Samrat Choudhary on Sunday inaugurated Bihar’s first river-linking project, the Belwa-Minapur Link Channel, describing it as a major step towards flood control, irrigation and integrated water resources management.Built under the Bagmati-Burhi Gandak River Link Scheme at a cost of Rs 130 crore, the project links the flood-prone Bagmati river with the Burhi Gandak. The water resources department has rejuvenated and remodelled the 68.80-km-long Belwa Dhar channel, which runs from Belwa Ghat in Sheohar district’s Piprahi block to Minapur in Muzaffarpur district.After formally launching the project, Samrat inspected the link channel and reviewed its alignment and utility. He said the channel would serve as a vital conduit for diverting excess water from the Bagmati to the Burhi Gandak during floods, helping manage surplus flows and reduce the intensity of flooding in vulnerable areas. Calling it an important component of the Bagmati flood management plan, he said lakhs of farmers across the region would benefit directly.The CM linked the initiative to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision of interlinking rivers. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, he said, such ambitious projects were now being implemented on the ground in Bihar, giving fresh momentum to the state’s water management strategy.Samrat said the Belwa-Minapur channel would expand irrigation capacity, boost agricultural output, raise farmers’ income and encourage fisheries and other farm-based activities. He added that the project would support groundwater recharge, improve green cover, aid environmental protection and strengthen the regional economy.Alongside the inauguration, the CM launched 40 development projects worth Rs 200 crore to accelerate infrastructure growth in Sheohar district.He also visited stalls put up by Jeevika, the industries department, agriculture department, education department and Bihar Police, including the Abhaya Brigade and cybercrime units.During the programme, Samrat handed over a symbolic cheque for Rs 25 crore to 4,550 Jeevika self-help groups in Sheohar district, underlining the govt’s focus on livelihood support alongside flood mitigation and rural development.
