The Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project in Bihar is an initiative to divert surplus water from the Kosi River to the Mahananda basin . The project has recently been approved by the Cabinet and included under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (PMKSY-AIBP) .
Key aspects of the Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project:
- Objective: To enhance irrigation and flood management in Bihar by diverting surplus Kosi water to the Mahananda basin .
- Project Details: The project involves remodelling the existing Eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC) up to 41.30 km and extending it to the Mechi River at 117.50 km . This will link the Kosi and Mechi rivers .
- Benefits:
- Provides additional irrigation to 2,10,516 hectares of farmland in Araria, Purnea, Kishanganj, and Katihar districts during the Kharif season .
- Restores the shortfall supply to 1.57 lakh hectares currently irrigated by the existing EKMC system .
- Diverts approximately 2,050 million cubic meters of surplus water from Kosi to the Mahananda command area during monsoons .
- Cost and Funding: The project is estimated to cost ₹6,282.32 crore, with ₹3,652.56 crore provided by the central government as assistance to Bihar .
- Completion Target: The project is scheduled for completion by March 2029 .
- Discussions with Nepal: Discussions with Nepal have occurred regarding the project, which is expected to significantly impact flood management in Bihar .
- Second Major River Interlinking Project: The Kosi-Mechi project is the second major river interlinking project in the country, after the Ken-Betwa project in Madhya Pradesh .
- Optimizing Irrigation: Channeling surplus Kosi water into the Mechi river will optimize irrigation facilities in the Mahananda basin across the districts of Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, and Purnia .
In summary, the Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project aims to improve irrigation and flood control in Bihar by diverting surplus water from the Kosi River to the Mahananda basin, with a target completion date of March 2029 …
