📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / PP Yoonus
National
Supreme Court orders Bihar to clear Ganga floodplain encroachments in Patna within 8 weeks
✍️ India Today
🗓 02 Oct 2026, 05:01 PM
👁 8
The Supreme Court has given the Bihar government an eight‑week deadline to remove illegal structures on the Ganga floodplain in Patna, aiming to reduce flood risk.
The Supreme Court has directed the Bihar state administration to clear all illegal encroachments on the Ganga floodplain within the capital city of Patna, setting a strict eight‑week timeframe. The order targets structures that have been built on land designated as a flood‑prone zone, which authorities say exacerbate the city's vulnerability during monsoon seasons.
Judges highlighted that unchecked development on the riverine plain hampers natural water flow and increases the likelihood of severe flooding, endangering lives and property. The court’s intervention comes amid growing concerns over recurrent floods that have disrupted daily life and strained emergency services in the region.
The Bihar government has been instructed to submit a compliance report to the court before the deadline, outlining the steps taken to demolish or relocate the identified structures. Officials have acknowledged the challenge of relocating occupants but affirmed their commitment to meet the court’s directive to safeguard the city’s flood resilience.
Failure to adhere to the timeline could invite contempt proceedings, underscoring the judiciary’s resolve to enforce environmental safeguards in flood‑prone areas.
Judges highlighted that unchecked development on the riverine plain hampers natural water flow and increases the likelihood of severe flooding, endangering lives and property. The court’s intervention comes amid growing concerns over recurrent floods that have disrupted daily life and strained emergency services in the region.
The Bihar government has been instructed to submit a compliance report to the court before the deadline, outlining the steps taken to demolish or relocate the identified structures. Officials have acknowledged the challenge of relocating occupants but affirmed their commitment to meet the court’s directive to safeguard the city’s flood resilience.
Failure to adhere to the timeline could invite contempt proceedings, underscoring the judiciary’s resolve to enforce environmental safeguards in flood‑prone areas.