Patna: The Bihar government has launched a statewide ‘river census’ to identify dead and nearly dead rivers and prepare a comprehensive plan for their rejuvenation, Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary announced in the Assembly on Thursday.
The announcement came during the minister’s budget speech for the Water Resources Department, as the House passed the department’s ₹7,127.35-crore budget for the 2026–27 financial year by voice vote.
Choudhary said several rivers across the state are in urgent need of restoration, and the government is committed to preserving and reviving these vital water bodies.
“In this regard, a ‘River Census’ is being prepared on the basis of ground truth verification for all small, large, and dead or nearly dead rivers within the state,” the minister said.
He added that the exercise would involve detailed documentation of rivers that have lost their original form due to encroachment, dried up because of reduced water flow, or become defunct as a result of heavy silt deposition.
The minister emphasized that local participation would be key to the initiative. Village heads at the panchayat level are being involved to ensure that even the smallest and most neglected rivers are identified and included in the survey.
The river census is expected to lay the groundwork for targeted restoration and conservation measures aimed at strengthening Bihar’s water security and ecological balance.
