How NHAI will use river silt for road construction, Pg15

Key Highlights:

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the Bihar government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to utilize river silt in National Highway projects.
• The initiative, named "Nadi Sanjivani, Nadi Punarjeevan, Sadak Navnirman," aims to address heavy silt accumulation in Bihar's rivers and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)'s need for construction materials.
• Rivers like Ganga, Kosi, Gandak, Falgu, and Bagmati in Bihar suffer from siltation, which leads to annual flooding and complicates water management.
• The NHAI faces challenges in acquiring key construction materials such as soil and ballast for its highway and expressway projects.
• Under the MoU, approximately 243 lakh cubic metres of suitable silt will be used in 16 ongoing National Highway projects, with another 835 lakh cubic metres proposed for 27 future projects.
• This collaboration is expected to improve flood management, reduce construction costs, and conserve agricultural land by minimizing the use of fresh earth material.

Detailed Insights:

• Bihar experiences recurring floods, particularly in its northern districts, due to rivers like the Kosi carrying significant silt loads, often originating from Nepal, which reduces their water-carrying capacity.
• The accumulation of silt not only causes flooding but also impacts agricultural land, infrastructure, and overall economic activities in the state.
• The NHAI's reliance on distant sources for construction materials like soil and ballast results in increased transportation costs, fuel consumption, and project delays.
• Utilizing locally available river silt as a free construction material will significantly lower project costs and facilitate faster execution of highway works.
• The initiative also promotes environmental sustainability by reducing the dependence on fertile agricultural soil for construction purposes, thereby conserving valuable farmland.
• Technical assessments and adherence to MoRTH specifications and Indian Roads Congress codes are crucial to ensure the suitability of excavated silt for road construction, as fine silt may require treatment or blending.
• Bihar has formulated its own Bihar Water Sources Restoration and Silt Management Policy, 2026, to provide a framework for restoring water bodies and managing accumulated silt.
• The project draws inspiration from the 'Buldhana Pattern' in Maharashtra, where excavated soil from water bodies was successfully used in highway construction, increasing water storage capacity.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): A formal document outlining mutual understanding and intentions between two or more parties, often non-binding legally, used for cooperation.
• Desilting: The process of removing accumulated silt, sediment, and debris from water bodies to restore their original depth, improve water flow, and enhance flood management.
• National Highway Authority of India (NHAI): An autonomous agency under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) responsible for the development, maintenance, and management of National Highways in India.
• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH): A central government ministry responsible for policy formulation, administration, and development of road transport and National Highways in India.