The story so far: To tackle flooding in the State, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday (July 19, 2026) inaugurated the approximately 68.80 km long Belwa-Minapur ink channel (Belwadhar) — part of the Bagmati-Budhi Gandak River Interlinking Project in Sheohar. It is Bihar’s first river-linking project, which runs from Belwa Ghat in Sheohar district’s Pipra block to Minapur in Muzaffarpur district. Constructed at a cost of ₹130.88 crore, it is part of the Bagmati Flood Management Project. It links the flood-prone Bagmati river with the Budhi Gandak.

What is the importance of the Link Channel?

The Link Channel will serve as a passage for diverting surplus water from the Bagmati River to the Budhi Gandak River. The implementation of this project will enable the management of excess water during floods and reduce the intensity of floods in North Bihar districts, including East Champaran. It will directly benefit lakhs of farmers in the region.

The project will also boost agricultural productivity of farmers, and would enhance irrigation capacity, boost agricultural production, increase farmers’ income, and encourage fisheries as well as other agriculture-based activities. Additionally, it will strengthen groundwater recharge, expand green cover and provide a boost to the regional economy. Along with flood control, irrigation-related hurdles in the area will be resolved, and the scope for large-scale fish farming will also expand. It is also the dream project of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Who will get the benefit?

This project will provide irrigation facilities to four irrigation-deprived blocks of Sheohar district, namely Piprahi, Dumri Katsari, Tariyani and Sheohar, nine blocks of Muzaffarpur district, namely Minapur, Gaighat, Chhoncha, Bandara, Mushari, Patahi, Phenhara, Tetariya, Pakadiyal, and Madhuban block in East Chamaparan and Kalyanpur block of Samastipur district.

The implementation of this project will increase irrigation capacity by 1,35,000 hectares. Approximately 50,000 cusecs of water will be released in a controlled manner. This will alleviate the pressure caused by floods and erosion in the Sheohar, East Champaran, and Muzaffarpur districts. Additionally, farmers will have access to ample irrigation water, and groundwater levels are expected to improve.

Any other river interlinking project in Bihar?

Yes, Bihar has two major river interlinking projects, with the first already started; the second is the Kosi-Mechi Link Project. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had approved the inclusion of Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project of Bihar under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (PMKSY-AIBP) of the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

The CCEA had also approved central support of ₹3,652.56 crore to Bihar for completion of the project by March 2029 with an estimated cost of ₹6,282.32 crore. Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project envisages diversion of part of surplus water of the Kosi river for extending irrigation to the Mahananda basin lying in Bihar by way of remodelling of the existing Eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC) and extending the EKMC beyond its tail end at Reduced Distance (RD) 41.30 km up to river Mechi at RD 117.50 km so that rivers Kosi and Mechi, which flow through Bihar, could be linked together within Bihar.

The Link Project will provide 2,10,516 hectares of additional annual irrigation in the Kharif season in Araria, Purnea, Kishanganj and Katihar districts of Bihar. The project has the potential to divert/utilize about 2,050 million cubic metres of surplus water of Kosi through the proposed link canal. Further, after remodelling of existing EKMC, the shortfall supply to 1.57 lakh hectare existing command of the existing Eastern Kosi Main Canal will be restored.

Why does Bihar face annual floods?

North Bihar faces annual flooding, with lakhs of people witnessing their crops and livestock destroyed each time. Bihar is India’s most flood-prone State, with 76% of the population in north Bihar living under the recurring threat of flood devastation. The major reason is the incessant rainfall in the catchment areas of Nepal, which leads to the rivers’ flow above the danger level at several places.

Kosi is one of the most destructive rivers in Bihar, and the 2008 flood claimed at least 250 lives. The mighty river Kosi had changed its course after it breached its embankment in Nepal on August 18 2008. The unstopped waters swept away more than 3,00,000 houses in 980 villages in the districts of Supaul, Madhepura, Saharsa, Araria and Purnea. It destroyed standing crops of paddy, wheat and vegetables in 1,10,000 hectares of fertile land.

An estimated 3.2 million people lost their homes and livelihoods, many times more than in any natural disaster in the country in recent history. One of the major tributaries of the Ganga, Kosi, is often called the Sorrow of Bihar because of frequent floods and changes in its course.