Muzaffarpur: The state government is contemplating creating a dictionary of five local languages and dialects popular in the hinterland.

Tirhut divisional commissioner Narmadeshwar Lal said the state government is working on a project to come out with a dictionary of five dialects - Maithili, Bhojpuri, Bajjika, Angika and Maghi.

The state government has constituted a seven-member committee headed by the divisional commissioner to explore ways and possibilities to preserve the dialects from the threat of extinction.

"A detailed master plan to make the dictionary needs at least Rs 1.10 crore. The state government will soon be informed to confer the funds," the commissioner said. He said the dictionary on these five dialects will be made on the basis of geographical position of the areas within the state," said Narmadeshwar Lal.

He added that words of regional dialects will have similar meaning of Hindi language and literature.

According to the divisional commissioner, a monitoring committee under the guidance of the governor at the state level is already functioning to give suggestions. Writers and scholars of these languages have been requested to give valuable suggestions to enrich the dialects, said the commissioner.