Bihar’s Kosi-Mechi Link Project Approved: A Boon for Farmers and Flood Management

Approval of Kosi-Mechi interstate link project is a big gift for thousands of farmers and people of North Bihar. Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar was trying for a long time to get this scheme approved from the Center. Its approval has been given under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (PMKSY-AIBP). The estimated cost of this project is Rs 6 thousand 282 crore 32 lakh, which includes central assistance of Rs 3 thousand 652 crore 56 lakh to Bihar. This project has been targeted to be completed by March 2029. During floods, excess water of Kosi will be transported to Mechi river through the link through Kosi-Mechi link project. This will help a lot in flood management.

Under this project, the existing Eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC) will be reconstructed up to 41.30 km and EKMC will be expanded up to Mechi river up to 117.50 km. This will provide additional irrigation facility throughout the year in 2 lakh 10 thousand 516 hectares of area in Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj, Katihar, Khagaria, Madhepura and Katihar districts. This will restore the shortage of supply in the existing command of the Eastern Kosi Main Canal.

With the completion of this project, 2050 million cubic meters of Kosi water can be diverted to the Mahananda Command during the monsoon period. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the inclusion of Bihar's Kosi-Mechi Interstate Link Project under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana and Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (PMKSY-AIBP) of the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The CCEA has also approved the approval of central assistance of Rs 3,652.56 crore to Bihar to complete this project with an estimated cost of Rs 6,282.32 crore by March 2029.

Koshi-Mechi Interstate Link Project envisages diversion of a part of surplus water of Koshi river for expansion of irrigation in Mahananda basin situated in Bihar through reconstruction of existing Eastern Koshi Main Canal (EKMC) and extension of EKMC beyond its end point at RD 41.30 km to Mechi river at RD 117.50 km so as to link Koshi and Mechi rivers flowing through Bihar together within Bihar.

This link project will provide additional annual irrigation of 2,10,516 hectares in Kharif season in Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj, Madhepura and Katihar districts of Bihar. The project will have the potential to divert about 2,050 million cubic meters of surplus water of Koshi and put it to irrigation use through the proposed link canal. Further, the deficient supply in the existing command of 1.57 lakh hectares of existing Eastern Koshi Main Canal will be restored after reconstruction of existing EKMC.

What is Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana?

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) was launched during the year 2015-16. The objective of which is to increase the physical access of water to the fields and expand the cultivable area under assured irrigation. Also, improving water use efficiency in the fields, implementing sustainable water conservation practices are also included in it. The Government of India has approved the implementation of PMKSY with an overall outlay of Rs 93,068.56 crore (Central assistance of Rs 37,454 crore) during the year 2021-26. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP) component of PMKSY is to create irrigation capacity through major and medium irrigation projects.

It is worth noting that a total of 63 projects have been completed across the country under PMKSY-AIBP so far and additional irrigation capacity of 26.11 lakh hectares of land has been created since April, 2016. A total of nine projects have been included after the AIBP component of PMKSY 2.0 from the year 2012-22. Koshi-Mechi Interstate Link Project is the tenth project included in the list