Bihar's Kosi-Mechi Interlinking Project | 26 Dec 2022

Why In News?

According to information received from the media on December 25, 2022, the way has been cleared for the construction of Bihar's very ambitious Kosi-Mechi link project. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Water Resources Department and the National Water Development Agency of the Department of Water Resources under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to prepare the DPR of this project.

Key Points

• On completion of the Kosi-Mechi link project, about 2.1 lakh hectare area in four districts of Seemanchal in the state will get irrigation facilities and relief from floods. These include Purnea, Katihar, Kishanganj and Araria districts.
• The project will irrigate about 69,000 hectares in Araria district, about 69,000 hectares in Purnea district, 39,000 hectares in Kishanganj district and 35,000 hectares in Katihar district.
• The Kosi-Mechi link project will benefit Forbesganj, Kursakata, Sikti, Palasi, Jokihat and Araria blocks under Araria district. At the same time, Terhagachh, Dighalbank, Bahadur Ganj and Kocha Dhaman blocks under Kishanganj district will be benefited.
• Apart from this, Baisa, Amour and Baisi blocks under Purnea district and Kadwa, Dandkhora, Pranpur, Manihari and Ahmedabad blocks under Katihar district will be benefited.
• It is known that approval has already been received from the state cabinet to start the work of Kosi-Mechi link project. In May 2022 itself, the state government had approved administrative and expenditure of about Rs 2.78 crore for DPR formation, survey and exploration work.
• The state government has approved budgetary provisions in the form of 60 percent central share and 40 percent state share, including this project in the national project by the central government.
• However, the state government continues to demand 90 percent central share and 10 percent state budgetary provision for the Kosi-Mechi link project on the lines of Madhya Pradesh's Ken-Betwa link project.
• A total of about 1397 hectares of land is required under this project, out of which 632 hectares is already acquired, while 765 hectares of private land is to be acquired.