New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today approved the inclusion of the Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project in Bihar under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (PMKSY-AIBP)’, which is overseen by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The Committee also authorized central funding amounting to Rs. 3,652.56 crore to ensure the project’s completion by March 2029, with an overall estimated cost of Rs. 6,282.32 crore.
This initiative aims to channel a portion of the Kosi River’s excess water to improve irrigation in the Mahananda basin of Bihar. This will involve upgrading the existing Eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC) and extending it from its current endpoint at Reduced Distance (RD) 41.30 km to the Mechi River at RD 117.50 km, thereby establishing a connection between the Kosi and Mechi rivers within the state. The project is anticipated to provide irrigation to an additional 210,516 hectares during the Kharif season across the districts of Araria, Purnea, Kishanganj, and Katihar.
It is estimated that the project will draw around 2,050 million cubic meters of surplus water from the Kosi River via the new link canal. Additionally, the remodeling of the EKMC is expected to address the shortfall in supply for 1.57 lakh hectares of the existing command area of the canal.
Launched in 2015-16, the ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana’ (PMKSY) aims to enhance water accessibility for agriculture, increase the area of irrigable land, improve water use efficiency, and encourage sustainable water conservation practices. The Government of India has approved the extension of PMKSY from 2021 to 2026, with a total budget of Rs. 93,068.56 crore, which includes Rs. 37,454 crore in central assistance. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) within PMKSY is dedicated to developing irrigation potential through large and medium-scale irrigation projects.
So far, 63 projects have been completed under PMKSY-AIBP and an additional irrigation potential of 26.11 lakh hectares has been created since April 2016. Nine projects have been included after the AIBP component of PMKSY 2.0 since 2012-22. Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link project is tenth project included in the list.
– global bihari bureau
