Construction of roads in Bihar not infrastructure development but exploiting its valuable water resources: Kanhaiya Kumar

Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar with supporters during ‘Palayan Roko Naukri Do Yatra’. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

Congress leader and in-charge of party’s students wing National Students Union of India (NSUI) Kanhaiya Kumar who is currently on his Palayan roko, Naukari do (stop migration, give jobs) journey across the state alleged on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) that “construction of big road in Bihar is not just about improving infrastructure but about exploiting its valuable water resources”.

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“Why are big roads being constructed in Bihar now? It is because Bihar has water resources. Take my words at this press meet that water will be more expensive than petrol (fuel) in future. All the industrialists have their eyes on Bihar’s water resources. The roads are being made to loot and take away Bihar’s resources”, the Congress leader told media persons in Darbhanga on March 24 while adding, “industrialists have set their sights on Bihar’s water resources, and the new roads are merely a means to facilitate their extraction”.

Currently, Kanhaiya Kumar is on a journey across poll-bound Bihar, highlighting issues of migration and lack of jobs in the State. However, Mr Kumar’s Palayan Roko, Naukari Do (stop migration, give jobs) journey has been a lackluster affair so far, as senior party leaders were conspicuous by their absence.

Mr. Kumar’s statement, though, came against the backdrop of the 189-km long Amas-Darbhanga expressway, which would connect Amas in Gaya to Nawada village in Darbhanga districts, under the ambitious Bharatmala project of the central government.

The Bharatmala Pariyojna (project) was launched by the government of India to bridge the gap in infrastructural development and also to improve the effectiveness of road traffic movement all across the country. The project implemented by the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways of India aims to develop 24800 kms of roads to be constructed in a phased manner. Bihar is a significant beneficiary of the project.

The State’s Water Resources Department said that Bihar has significant water resources, including rivers, groundwater and wetlands.

Meanwhile, Kanhaiya Kumar’s allegations have triggered fears among people that the State’s water resources might be exploited for private gain rather than being managed for the benefit of local communities.

“Since the water scarcity is gradually becoming a global issue, Kanhaiya Kumar’s allegation will have serious significance for the people of Bihar, in days to come”, Arun Jha, a retired school teacher of Darbhanga, told The Hindu over the phone. The BJP leader and party’s national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said “Kanhaiya has insulted people of Bihar”.

In another significant development in Bihar where assembly elections are only months away, due in October-November, the newly formed Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor has said that his party would not be part of Opposition INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) block for the upcoming poll and his party would contest on all 243 seats in state assembly. “Our alliance is with the people of Bihar who seek change and want to put the state back on the path of development”, Mr. Kishor said.

Mr. Kumar, the former president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) and leader of All India Students Federation (AISF), Kanhaiya Kumar, earlier, had also served as National Executive Council member of Communist Party of India (CPI) but later joined Congress party in September 2021 where he was appointed as the AICC in-charge of NSUI. He fought, unsuccessfully, two Lok Sabha elections from Begusarai in 2019 and North-East Delhi in 2024.