On 28 October 2026, the Bihar cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the State Water Resources Department (WRD) and the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) in Roorkee. The agreement will see the two agencies collaborate on a Flood Plain Zone Delineation Study, costing an estimated ₹1.99 crore. The study will map flood‑prone areas along the major tributaries of the River Ganga – the Kosi, Gandak and Sone – and provide data to guide sustainable development and disaster risk reduction.
During a post‑cabinet briefing held in Patna’s IPRD conference room, Additional Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar Chaudhary explained that the study will help minimise loss of life and property by aligning development plans with changing environmental and socio‑economic conditions. The data generated will also support future infrastructure projects and land‑use planning in flood‑affected districts.
In the same session, the cabinet approved a separate scheme to assess the safety of all 24 dams in the state under the Dam Safety Act 2021. The ₹8.39 crore programme will produce Emergency Action Plans and Operation & Maintenance manuals, and will include hydrographic and sedimentation surveys to gauge current storage capacity and silt accumulation. The goal is to complete the assessment within eight months and strengthen dam‑safety management amid high silt loads and monsoon flooding.
Another decision approved a ₹11.09655 crore investment to upgrade the low‑tension distribution network operated by the state’s electricity distribution companies. The upgrade will replace overloaded transformers, reinforce LT cables and modernise related infrastructure. The project will roll out in phases over a maximum of three years, responding to the state’s peak electricity demand, which has risen from 1,802 MW in 2012 to 9,475 MW today.
The cabinet also sanctioned the transfer of 151.58 acres of the closed Motipur Sugar Mill, a unit of the Bihar State Sugar Corporation, to the Industries Department for industrial development. The remaining 115.08 acres will be retained for a new sugar mill, a move aimed at diversifying the state’s industrial base.
In a bid to nurture sporting talent, ₹12 crore was earmarked for the 2026 Bihar State Games. The event is expected to host around 5,500 athletes, 750 technical officials and 750 volunteers across 24 sports disciplines. The Bihar Olympic Association will be responsible for accommodation, transport, medical support and equipment.
Finally, the cabinet approved ₹18.21 crore for a feasibility study of an underground road corridor in Patna. The study will examine technical, environmental and financial aspects of constructing a subterranean roadway to ease traffic congestion in the capital.
In total, 43 decisions were taken during the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, covering flood‑management, dam safety, power infrastructure, industrial land use, sports development and urban transport.
