File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at North Koel Reservoir in 2017
New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today approved the revision of the cost for the completion of the balance works of the North Koel Reservoir Project, from Rs.1,622.27 crore (Central share: Rs.1,378.60 crore), as was approved in August 2017, to Rs. 2,430.76 crores (Central share: Rs.1,836.41 crore).
On completion of the balance works, the project is expected to provide additional annual irrigation to 42,301 hectares in the four drought-prone districts of Jharkhand and Bihar.
North Koel Reservoir Project is an inter-state major irrigation project with a command area lying in Bihar and Jharkhand. The project comprises a dam on the North Koel River near Kutku village in the Latehar district of Jharkhand, a barrage 96 km downstream of the dam at Mohammadganj in the Palamu district of Jharkhand), Right Main Canal (RMC) and Left Main Canal (LMC), taking off from the barrage.
North Koel Reservoir Project
Total irrigation potential: 1,11, 521 hectares
Irrigation potential in Bihar: 91,917 hectares
Irrigation potential in Jharkhand: 19,604 hectares
The construction of the dam and ancillary activities started in the year 1972 by the Government of Bihar from its own resources. The work continued till 1993 and was stopped in that year by the state Forest Department.
Due to apprehension that water accumulated in the dam would threaten the Betla National Park and Palamu Tiger Reserve, the work on the dam was at a standstill. Subsequent to the stoppage of the work, the project was providing annual irrigation to 71,720 hectares.
After the bifurcation of Bihar in November 2000, the head works, the Dam and Barrage, came into Jharkhand. Also, the entire 11.89 kilometre Left Main Canal (LMC) from Mohammadganj barrage came into Jharkhand.
However, out of 110.44 km of Right Main Canal (RMC), the first 31.40 km lies in Jharkhand and the remaining 79.04 km lies in Bihar. In 2016, the Union Government decided to provide assistance for the completion of balance works of the North Koel Reservoir Project in order to operationalise the project to realise the envisaged benefits. It was decided to reduce the reservoir level so as to save the core area of Palamu Tiger Reserve.
The proposal to complete the balance works of the project at an estimated expenditure of Rs.1622.27 crore was approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2017.
Subsequently, at the request of both State Governments, certain other components were found necessary to be included in the project.
The complete lining of RMC and LMC was also regarded essential from technical considerations to derive the envisaged irrigation potential. Thus, the works of the Gaya distribution system, lining of RMC and LMC, remodelling of en route structures, construction of a few new structures and one-time Special Package for resettlement and rehabilitation of project-affected families were to be provided for in the updated cost estimate.
Accordingly, a revised cost estimate of the project was prepared. Out of the cost of balance works of Rs.2430.76 crore, the Central would provide Rs.1836.41 crore.
– global bihari bureau
