Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1348, answered on 06.02.2026, concerns dredging work in the Ganga River within the Bhagalpur Parliamentary Constituency of Bihar. The objective is to maintain a navigable depth of 3 meters in a 45-meter-wide navigation channel for cargo vessels within the National Waterway -1 (Ganga – Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System). Of the 1620 km stretch, approximately 56 km from Kahalgaon to Sultanganj is in the Bhagalpur District. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) deploys dredgers where the Least Available Depth (LAD) is less than 3 meters. Dredging is undertaken as needed to ensure smooth navigation, which promotes environment-friendly, economic, and fuel-efficient inland water transport compared to rail and road, contributing to the country's economic benefit. The minister responsible is Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.
Key Entities Referenced
Ganga River: The river where dredging work is being conducted.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The ministry responsible for the dredging work and waterways.
National Waterway - 1 (Ganga – Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System): The waterway designation of the Ganga River stretch under consideration.
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI): Autonomous organization under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways deploying dredgers.
Bhagalpur: Location where dredging work is being undertaken within its parliamentary constituency in Bihar.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1348
ANSWERED ON 06.02.2026
DREDGING WORK IN THE GANGA RIVER
1348. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:
प(cid:517)न,पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी
(a) the objectives of undertaking dredging work in the Ganga River within the Bhagalpur
Parlimentary Constituency of Bihar;
(b) whether dredging activities have been initiated or proposed in this stretch of the
Ganga, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the expected outcomes of the dredging work, particularly with respect to navigation,
erosion control, flood management and local economic development in Bhagalpur?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) & (b) The objective of dredging work is to maintain navigable depth of 3 meters in
the navigation channel of 45 meters width for smooth movement of Cargo vessels in
River Ganga, which has been declared as National Waterway -1 (Ganga – Bhagirathi-
Hooghly River System). Out of the declared stretch of 1620 Kms, approximately 56
Kms from Kahalgaon to Sultanganj comes under Bhagalpur District. Inland Waterways
Authority of India (IWAI), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Ports,
Shipping & Waterways has been deploying its departmental dredger in this stretch for
undertaking dredging, wherever Least Available Depth (LAD) is less than 3 meters.
(c) Dredging work is undertaken on need basis to ensure smooth navigation enabling
movement of vessels. Inland Water Transport is environment-friendly, economic and
fuel-efficient in comparison to Rail and Road leading to overall economic benefit of the
country.
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