Land Mafia and Negligence: Why Bihar is Losing Its Water Sources

The 2nd Census of Water Bodies has exposed the vulnerability of Bihar’s blue infrastructure. The state has seen nearly 9,000 water bodies vanish, a figure that includes ponds, check dams, and reservoirs. This depletion is largely driven by rampant encroachment, often orchestrated by land mafias who target public water sources for illegal construction and commercial gain. The census highlights that while 45,793 sources were documented in 2018-19, only 36,856 could be located during the 2023-24 survey.

The impact is visible across various types of water bodies. Reservoirs, which are crucial for irrigation and groundwater recharge, have seen their numbers fall from 2,156 to 315. Tanks have similarly vanished, leaving local communities struggling for water. Approximately 85% of these sites are situated in rural Bihar, where they serve as the primary source of water for agriculture and livestock. The disappearance of these sources directly affects the rural economy and the sustainability of traditional farming practices.

Accountability remains a significant hurdle. In a recent budget session of the Bihar Assembly, the Revenue and Land Reforms Minister claimed only five ponds were encroached upon, a figure that was immediately contested by legislators citing the High Court’s earlier observation of over 1,000 such cases. Now, with the Central Government’s census revealing a loss of nearly 9,000 bodies, the state government faces renewed pressure to take strict action against those occupying public lands and to initiate restoration projects before the water table reaches a critical low.