Bihar Steps Up Drive to Tackle Waterlogging in Sugarcane Areas, Review Meeting Held

On December 30, 2025, a joint meeting of the Water Resources Department and the Sugarcane Industry Department was held to promote sugarcane cultivation. In this meeting, the concerned engineers were directed to conduct surveys and prepare plans on a priority basis to address the problem of waterlogging in sugarcane cultivation areas. An important meeting was held today in the Water Resources Department's departmental meeting room to review the compliance status of these instructions.

The meeting was chaired by Shri Santosh Kumar Mall, Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department. The meeting was attended by Shri Anil Kumar Jha, Divisional Commissioner, Sugarcane Industry Department, officials from the Sugarcane Industry Department, representatives from sugarcane mills, Chief Engineer (Irrigation Creation) of the Water Resources Department, Shri Awadhesh Kumar, Chief Engineer (Flood) of the Water Resources Department, Shri Varun Kumar, Chief Engineers from various districts, Regional Engineers connected via video conferencing, and other senior officials of the department.

It was informed at the meeting that, in light of earlier instructions, surveys are being conducted in the districts for canals, canal structures, sluice gates, culvert construction, drain cleaning, and encroachment clearance related to sugarcane cultivation areas. The Principal Secretary directed that all districts complete the survey work promptly and provide the report to the department, so that plans can be formulated on a priority basis and execution of the works can be ensured.

It was also informed at the meeting that the process of incorporating drainage-related works in sugarcane cultivation areas into the MNREGA Annual Action Plan is underway. In this regard, a letter has been sent to MNREGA requesting an additional 15 days to complete a complete list of all necessary structures.

Also, a total of 41 schemes have been identified in 11 blocks of West Champaran district, the implementation of which will resolve waterlogging in 31,361 acres of area. In East Champaran district, a total of 28 schemes have been identified in 12 blocks, the implementation of which will address waterlogging in 13,729 acres. Three schemes have been identified in Samastipur district, which will address waterlogging in 16,500 acres. Similarly, schemes have been identified in Gopalganj, Siwan, and Begusarai districts, which will increase sugarcane productivity, benefiting sugarcane farmers.

The left and right embankments of the Masan River are being constructed, covering a total of 46,056 km, which will address the waterlogging problem in the respective blocks.

The Principal Secretary also directed that districts where panchayat-wise survey work is still pending should complete the survey within a week and provide the report to the department and MNREGA. It was decided at the meeting that a review meeting would be held again after 15 days to review the progress of compliance with all the directives issued today.

The Water Resources Department is continuously coordinating and taking effective action to provide relief to sugarcane farmers from waterlogging and to encourage sugarcane cultivation. This initiative is an important step towards strengthening sugarcane production in the state.