Kosi Mechi Interstate Link Project

• 05 Apr 2025

Why in News? 

The Union Cabinet approved the inclusion of Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project of Bihar under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP) .

Key Points 

• About the Project:
  • Under this project, excess water of Kosi river will be diverted to the Mahananda river basin in Bihar.
  • Under this project, the Eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC) will be reconstructed, and extended up to the Mechi River .
  • The Eastern Koshi Main Canal is a part of the joint Koshi Project (1954) of India and Nepal , which was built to solve the problem of frequent change of course of the Koshi River.
• Objective: 
  • The main objective of this project is to increase the irrigation capacity in Bihar. 
  • The scheme will provide additional irrigation facilities to 2,10,516 hectares of area during Kharif season in Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj and Katihar districts of Bihar.
• Sanction of Central Assistance :
  • The estimated cost of the project has been fixed at Rs 6,282.32 crore, out of which central assistance of Rs 3,652.56 crore has been sanctioned to Bihar. 
  • This amount will aid in the development of the project and implementation of its various components.
• Deadline :
  • This project is targeted to be completed by March 2029.
  • On completion of this project, irrigation facilities will expand in Bihar and it will also help in flood control.

Prime Minister Agricultural Irrigation Scheme (PMKSY)

• AIBP was launched in 1996 with the objective of expediting the implementation of irrigation projects beyond the resource capabilities of the states. 
• This is a centrally sponsored scheme (core scheme) launched in the year 2015. The centre-state share will be in the ratio of 75:25. In the case of the north-eastern region and hilly states, this ratio will be 90:10.
• This will benefit around 22 lakh farmers, including 2.5 lakh Scheduled Caste and 2 lakh Scheduled Tribe farmers.
• The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched a mobile application for geo-tagging of components of projects under PMKSY in the year 2020 .
  • It has three main components- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) and Watershed Development. 
• Objective:
  • Convergence of investments in irrigation at the regional level,
  • expanding the cultivable area under assured irrigation (har khet ko pani),
  • Improving on-farm water use efficiency to reduce water wastage,
  • To introduce sustainable water conservation practices by enhancing recharge of aquifers and exploring the feasibility of reuse of treated municipal water for peri-urban agriculture and to attract greater private investment in a precision irrigation system .

Koshi River

• It is called the 'Sorrow of Bihar' . It originates in the Himalayas at 7,000 metres above sea level from the catchment area of Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga .
• Flowing through China, Nepal and India, this river enters India near Hanuman Nagar and merges with the Ganga River near Kursela in Katihar district of Bihar.
• The Koshi River is formed by the confluence of three main streams: Sun Koshi, Arun Koshi and Tamur Koshi .
• The Koshi river is known for its tendency to change its course and flow westwards , which has moved up to 112 kilometres in the last 200 years, destroying agricultural areas in Darbhanga, Saharsa and Purnia districts.
• Tributaries: The river has several important tributaries, including the Trijanga, Bhutahi Balan, Kamala Balan, and Bagmati , all of which flow through the plains and join the Koshi River.

Mechi River

• It is a trans-boundary river flowing through Nepal and India . It is a tributary of the Mahananda River.
• The Mechi River is a perennial river that originates in the Himalayan inter-valley in the Mahabharat Range in Nepal and then flows through Bihar to join the Mahananda in Kishanganj district.