Ara: The state water resources department has approved a major anti-erosion project to protect villages along the Ganga river in Bhojpur district, particularly in Shahpur block, where large-scale erosion has displaced hundreds of families.According to the Bhojpur district magistrate’s office, anti-erosion work will be carried out on the right bank of the Ganga near the Buxar-Koilwar embankment at an estimated cost of Rs 52 crore.A junior engineer associated with the project said villages such as Gangapur, Bhusoula, Nandpur and Jawaniya (Damodarpur), which have been severely affected by erosion, would benefit from the initiative. “Boulder pitching work has already begun to strengthen and stabilise the riverbank,” the engineer said.Officials said the project aims to protect nearly half-a-dozen vulnerable villages from recurring erosion and prevent further loss of land and property.In July 2025, devastating erosion in Jawaniya village alone swallowed more than 200 houses, around 300 bighas of farmland, two water tanks, three temples and two school buildings. The district administration later provided Rs 1 lakh compensation to affected families and rehabilitation land at Belauti, around 30km away.“The initiative will not only offer immediate relief to erosion-affected villages, but will also prove highly beneficial for the public in the long run,” a senior district official said.
