PATNA, Mar 11: Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary on Tuesday said in assembly that Bihar, once a water surplus state, would become a water deficient state by the year 2050 , if remedial measures were not taken.
Chaudhary while replying to debate on budgetary demand of his department for the financial year 2025-26 in House, said that Bihar was once a water surplus state having per capita water availability of five thousands cubic meters.
Due to excessive exploitation of water resources, per capita water availability got reduced to one thousand cubic meters, which was a matter of serious concern as this prevailing situation was called water stressed condition, he added.
“As per technical assessment, per capita water availability could considerably reduce further, making Bihar a water deficient state by the year 2050, if remedial measures were not taken,” Minister said adding that taking serious note of the prevailing scenario of water availability, Bihar government had launched ‘Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali ‘ mission to revive depleting water resources and minimise adverse effects of climate change.
It was visionary leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar which made it possible to launch ‘ Jal Jeevan Hariyali ‘ by the state government, he added.
Chaudhary said that ground water availability had increased after launching of ‘Jal Jeevan Hariyali Mission ‘.
It was for the first time that ground water availability had increased as earlier, it was maintaining receding trend, he pointed out.
Dissatisfied with reply of the Minister, opposition staged walkout from the House. Later, budgetary demand of Rs 7,451.14 crores of Water Resources department for the financial year
2025-26 was passed by voice vote in absence of opposition.
(UNI)
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