Bihar's Nathmalpur Bhagad Wetland to become a Beacon of Ecological Restoration with Central Government Funding

Strategic Insights -

Bihar's Nathmalpur Bhagad wetland, a critical site at the confluence of three major rivers, is set to undergo a pioneering conservation project funded entirely by the Central government. Launched under the Namami Gange Mission-II, the Rs.3.51 crore project aims to restore the ecosystem and promote sustainable community development. The project is a milestone for Bihar's 4,416 wetlands mapped in the National Wetland Atlas (2010) and is the first wetland in the state to be conserved with 100% Central funding.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Rs.3.51 crore project is fully funded by the Central government, with Bihar's department of environment, forest and climate change (DEFCC) executing the conservation plan.
  • The project spans four years (2025-29) across two phases, with a dual-level approach targeting both the sub-basin and the site for a holistic revival of the region's ecological balance.
  • Nathmalpur Bhagad is one of Bihar's 4,416 wetlands mapped in the National Wetland Atlas (2010), with an additional 17,582 smaller wetlands dotting the state.
  • The project aims to breathe new life into the ecosystem, weaving biodiversity and ecosystem services into the Ganga river basin's future.
  • Local communities will be engaged in developing livelihoods through the wetland ecosystem, and the department will carry out appropriate delineation and demarcation of the wetland.
  • The state government is not just conserving Nathmalpur Bhagad, but also building a model for sustainable wetland management.
  • Bihar's Economic Survey 2024-25 underscores the state's wetland wealth, with the Bihar State Wetland Authority actively identifying sites for global recognition.
  • Additional chief secretary, DEFC, Harjot Kaur Bamhrah said that Nathmalpur Bhagad is the first wetland in Bihar to be conserved with 100% Central funding.
  • S Chandrashekhar, chief conservator of forests and Bihar's wetland nodal officer, said that the state government is not just conserving Nathmalpur Bhagad, but also building a model for sustainable wetland management.

Statistics:

  • Rs.3.51 crore: the total funding for the conservation project.
  • 4,416: the number of wetlands mapped in the National Wetland Atlas (2010).
  • 17,582: the number of smaller wetlands dotting the state.
  • 100%: the percentage of Central funding for the conservation of Nathmalpur Bhagad wetland.
  • 2025-29: the four-year period for the project, spanning two phases.
  • 2024-25: the year of the Bihar Economic Survey, which underscores the state's wetland wealth.

Sources:

  • HT Digital Content Services
  • HT Patna
  • Bihar State Wetland Authority
  • National Wetland Atlas (2010)
  • Bihar Economic Survey 2024-25