Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has directed officials to prepare a long-term flood risk mitigation strategy for the Kosi river system, with emphasis on silt management and construction of a new barrage. The directions were issued during a review of water resources, road connectivity and energy projects across the state.

The review covered the Ganga, Gandak and Kosi river systems, the Buxar-Bhagalpur six-lane Greenfield Expressway, the 2,400 MW Pirpainti Thermal Power Project, and the PM-KUSUM solar energy scheme. Chaudhary instructed departments to move beyond annual flood responses and adopt a multi-district approach covering people, assets and connectivity across the Kosi corridor.

He directed officials to begin work on a new barrage and give special attention to desilting, which he said would improve water storage and flow capacity. The proposed flood management plan also includes strengthening embankments along the Ganga, Kosi and Gandak rivers and constructing four-lane roads above them, with the stated aim of providing lasting relief to affected communities.

Chaudhary identified the first 100 km of the Kosi region as a high-risk stretch requiring double sheet piling. For the Gandak project, he proposed installing solar plants on embankments. He also sought faster implementation of the 348.196-km Buxar-Bhagalpur expressway, including its 336.205-km stretch in Bihar and roughly 12 km in Uttar Pradesh.

The Chief Minister reviewed progress on Ganga-Ambika Path, Narayani Path, Vishwamitra Path, the Pirpainti project and Banka Thermal Power Plant. He instructed officials to complete solarisation of agricultural feeders under PM-KUSUM and expand solar-powered operations at state-owned tubewells to support reliable farm electricity.

Officials were asked to maintain regular monitoring, improve coordination between departments and meet project timelines. The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Chief Minister’s Office, the Water Resources Department, the Road Construction Department, the Energy Department and Bihar State Road Development Corporation.