The Ganga and its tributaries are undergoing continuing morphological changes. Sediment generated in the upstream catchments is transported through the river network and deposited in downstream reaches depending on discharge, channel geometry, sediment characteristics and hydraulic controls. Excessive or altered sediment deposition can reduce channel conveyance, modify flood levels and create new hydraulic and morphological conditions.
National Conference30 Oct · Patna
Ganga Water Treaty:Water Security of Bihar
गंगा जल संधि : बिहार की जल सुरक्षा
Towards integrated water–sediment–morphology management of the Ganga and its major tributaries.
- Conference date
- 30 October 2026
- Conference date
- Venue
- Chanakya Hotel, Patna
- Venue
- No fee to take part
- Registration Nil
- No fee to take part
- Language of the dialogue
- English / Hindi
- Language of the dialogue
Under the guidance of
Shri Samrat ChoudharyHon’ble Chief Minister, Bihar
Shri Vijay Kumar ChoudharyHon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Bihar
7
Major tributaries
Prelude
A River Where Water, Sediment and Life Are Interlinked
The Ganga is a transboundary and morphodynamically active alluvial river system in which water, sediment, channel morphology, floodplain connectivity and ecological processes are closely interlinked. Bihar occupies a critical downstream position in the Ganga basin, where major tributaries including the Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi, Burhi Gandak, Sone, Punpun and Mahananda contribute substantial flows and sediment.
“For Bihar, water security is therefore not only a question of water availability.”
GhaghraGandakKosiBurhi GandakSonePunpunMahananda
Read the full preludeChallenges
Why a Basin-Scale Scientific Dialogue Matters
The Farakka system is an important element in the downstream Ganga system and therefore requires objective scientific assessment of its hydraulic, sediment and morphological effects. At the same time, upstream interventions, transboundary processes and changing climate and rainfall patterns can influence the timing, quantity and sediment characteristics of flows reaching Bihar.
These interconnected challenges require basin-scale scientific assessment rather than fragmented interventions. Sediment must be treated as an integral component of river management, while harmful aggradation, excessive erosion and disruption of sediment continuity need to be addressed through evidence-based and adaptive measures.
Objective
What the conference will seek
- Practical and scalable approaches for sediment management
- Upstream, inter-State and transboundary data cooperation
- Technical and financial support required from the Central Government
- A national framework for scientific sediment management in the Ganga and other Indian rivers
Sub-Themes
Five Broad Categories for Papers and Dialogue
Contributors may address any of the identified sub-categories or propose an allied topic relevant to the overall theme.
Theme 01
Water Security, Hydrology and Flood Resilience
- Water security of Bihar: water availability, allocation, irrigation, drinking water and ecological requirements.
- Hydrology, changing rainfall patterns, extreme events, flood forecasting and climate-resilient water management.
- Integrated management of the Ganga and its major tributaries, including floodplain, drainage and community resilience.
Theme 02
Sediment, River Morphology and Practical Sediment Management
- Sediment budget, source-to-sink processes, sediment transport, aggradation/degradation and changes in channel capacity.
- Practical sediment-management measures including catchment erosion control, sediment routing, sluicing, sediment passage and targeted removal/dredging.
Theme 03
Upstream, Transboundary and Basin Cooperation
- Role of Nepal and upstream areas in sediment-source control, hydrological regulation and reduction of downstream sediment impacts.
- India–Nepal and inter-State sharing of rainfall, discharge, sediment, flood and extreme-event information.
- Cooperative basin-management mechanisms integrating upstream interventions, downstream impacts and legitimate water-security requirements.
Theme 04
National Policy, Institutional and Financial Support
- National Ganga sediment-management policy/framework with common standards for monitoring, sediment budgeting, modelling and impact assessment.
- Role of Central Government, riparian States and specialized institutions in scientific assessment, monitoring and adaptive river management.
- Central technical and financial support for Bihar, including long-term monitoring, bathymetry, modelling, pilot sediment-management works and research.
Theme 05
Technology, Ecology, Livelihoods and Public Participation
- GIS, remote sensing, AI, digital twins, real-time sensors and decision-support systems for Ganga and sediment management.
- River ecology, wetlands, floodplains, nature-based solutions and environmental safeguards in sediment and flood management.
- Agriculture, livelihoods, community participation, youth, students, researchers, innovators and citizen-led river resilience initiatives.
Important Dates
Key Milestones
- Submission of abstract
- Intimation of acceptance
- Submission of paper
- Conference Date
Preliminary Programme
One Day, Three Technical Sessions
30 October 2026Chanakya Hotel, Patna
- Registration 09:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Inaugural Session 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- Tea Break 11:30 AM – 11:45 AM
- Technical Session – I 11:45 AM – 01:15 PM
- Lunch Break 01:15 PM – 02:00 PM
- Technical Session – II 02:00 PM – 03:30 PM
- Tea Break 03:30 PM – 03:45 PM
- Technical Session – III 03:45 PM – 05:15 PM
- Tea Break 05:15 PM – 05:30 PM
- Valedictory Session 05:30 PM – 06:00 PM
Organising Committee
Guided by the Leadership of the Water Resources Department
- VKChief Patron
Sri Vijay Kumar Chaudhary
Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister (Minister, Water Resources Department), Government of Bihar
- CSPatron
Dr. Chandrashekhar Singh, IAS
Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Bihar
- BMConvenor
Er. Brajesh Mohan
Engineer-in-Chief, Headquarters, Water Resources Department, Government of Bihar
- WKMember
Er. Warun Kumar
Engineer-in-Chief, Flood Control & Drainage, Water Resources Department, Government of Bihar
- NKMember
Er. Nikhil Kumar
Engineer-in-Chief, Irrigation Creation, Water Resources Department, Government of Bihar
Conference Location – Patna
On the Southern Bank of the River Ganga
Patna, the capital of Bihar, provides a suitable location for a dialogue involving government institutions, academic and research organizations, technical experts and stakeholders from across the Ganga basin.
Chanakya Hotel Patna, Bihar
- Date & time
- · 09:00 AM – 06:00 PM
- Organised by
- Water Resources Department, Government of Bihar