MoRTH and Bihar Sign MoU for Silt Utilisation in Highways
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways · Infrastructure · Posted 03 NOV 2026 4:13PM
What happened
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the Government of Bihar signed an MoU for the 'Nadi Sanjivani' initiative to scientifically desilt water bodies and utilise excavated silt in National Highway projects. The project plans to use 243 lakh cubic metres of silt across 16 ongoing projects and 835 lakh cubic metres for 27 future projects to mitigate floods and reduce construction costs.
Why it matters for UPSC
This agreement illustrates the integration of environmental management, disaster risk reduction (flood mitigation), and sustainable infrastructure development, highly relevant for UPSC GS Paper III (Infrastructure and Environment).
Key objectives
- Sign an MoU between MoRTH and the Government of Bihar for scientific desilting and silt utilisation in National Highway projects under the 'Nadi Sanjivani' initiative.
- Utilise 243 lakh cubic metres of suitable silt in 16 ongoing National Highway projects and propose 835 lakh cubic metres for 27 future projects.
- Support the Bihar Water Sources Restoration and Silt Management Policy, 2026, to enhance flood management, drainage, and agricultural conservation.