The national highways authority of India (NHAI) will use sand and other materials excavated from rivers and water bodies in Bihar for highway construction, union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari said after the Bihar government and the road transport ministry signed an MoU.Nitin Gadkari said the initiative would also help mitigate flooding in the state.The Bihar chief minister said the state faces floods not only due to its own water but also because of water flowing in from other regions, including Nepal. He noted that the highest flood levels (HFL) had risen in three rivers despite Bihar receiving less rainfall this year.Desilting rivers and water bodies could help reduce the impact of floods, the chief minister said, adding that desilting the Ganga and reclaiming land along its banks could create space for one lakh Ganga-facing homes.
