Patna: The Bihar government has directed districts to speed up surveys and planning work to tackle long-standing waterlogging in sugarcane-growing regions, aiming to improve farm conditions and boost crop output, officials said.
The instructions were issued by the Water Resources Department in Patna, Principal Secretary Santosh Kumar Mall at a review meeting held on Friday. Mall asked officials to complete all pending panchayat-wise surveys within one week, warning that delays could slow drainage and flood-control works.
The meeting followed a joint review in December by the water resources and sugarcane industry departments, which had identified priority areas for action.
Officials said surveys are being conducted across districts to examine canals, sluice gates, culverts, drainage channels and encroachments that cause waterlogging in sugarcane fields. Based on the findings, district-level plans will be prepared and taken up for immediate implementation.
The government is also planning to include drainage works in sugarcane-growing areas under the annual action plan of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Officials said a request has been sent to rural development authorities seeking an additional 15 days to finalise the list of required works.
In West Champaran, 41 works across 11 blocks have been identified to address waterlogging in more than 31,000 acres. In East Champaran, 28 works covering 12 blocks aim to improve drainage in nearly 13,700 acres, while three works in Samastipur are planned to cover about 16,500 acres. Similar measures are proposed in Gopalganj, Siwan and Begusarai districts.
Apart from this, The officials said that to reduce waterlogging nearby farming areas the construction work of left and right embankments along a 46-kilometre stretch of the Masan river is being done.
Mall said districts that have not yet completed surveys must submit reports to both the Water Resources Department and MNREGA authorities within a week. A follow-up review meeting will be held after 15 days to review progress.
