Centre’s conditional nod for Falgu rejuvenation

Gaya: The Centre has conditionally cleared Gaya MP and Union MSME minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s proposal to rejuvenate the Falgu/Niranjana river through desilting and allied measures. The decision was taken at a meeting in New Delhi on Aug 20, chaired by Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari.The meeting was also attended by Union water resources minister C R Patil and environment minister Bhupendra Yadav. The river is known as Niranjana in its southern stretch and Falgu in the north.According to available information, Gadkari, while accepting Manjhi’s long-standing demand, left the next step to the Bihar and Jharkhand govts. He said the rejuvenation proposal would be implemented if the two govts issued NOCs for the project.Once the NOCs are given, the first phase of the 300-km-long riverine project will be executed by the National Highways Authority of India through desilting and removal of earth from the riverbed. The excavated earth will be used in highway construction. Manjhi also favoured developing a pathway on both sides of the riverbed.Falgu is mostly a dry river, with much of its water flowing underground. Efforts are proposed to make it almost perennial through modern recharge techniques in catchment areas, construction of check dams and cleaning of conventional canals. Experts from IIT Roorkee made a presentation on the issue.Besides the Union ministers, the meeting was attended by Archana Verma, secretary, department of water resources, Union govt; Anil Chaudhary, member (projects), NHAI; Anand Kishore, additional chief secretary, water resources department, Bihar govt; department secretary Chandrashekhar Singh; and Jai Singh, secretary, revenue and land reforms department, Bihar govt.