Patna: The long-awaited Kosi-Mechi interstate link project has been approved, marking a significant breakthrough for thousands of farmers in North Bihar. The initiative, championed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP).
With an estimated cost of Rs 6,282.32 crore, the project will receive Rs 3,652.56 crore in central assistance. It is set for completion by March 2029 and aims to mitigate the impact of floods by channeling excess water from the Kosi river to the Mechi river. This move is expected to improve flood management in the region while bolstering irrigation facilities.
The project involves reconstructing 41.3 km of the existing Eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC) and extending it by 117.5 km to connect with the Mechi river. This expansion will provide year-round irrigation to 210,516 hectares of farmland across Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj, Katihar, Khagaria, and Madhepura districts. Additionally, it will address water shortages in the existing command area of the EKMC.
Once operational, the project is expected to divert 2,050 million cubic meters of surplus Kosi water to the Mahananda command during monsoon months, ensuring better water availability for irrigation.
The approval was granted by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reinforcing the government’s commitment to enhancing Bihar’s agricultural infrastructure. The Kosi-Mechi link is the latest addition to the PMKSY-AIBP initiative, which has so far completed 63 projects nationwide, expanding irrigation to 2.61 million hectares of farmland since April 2016.
About Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)
Launched in 2015-16, PMKSY aims to expand irrigated land and improve water efficiency in agriculture. With an overall budget of Rs 93,068.56 crore (including Rs 37,454 crore in central assistance) for 2021-26, the programme seeks to enhance irrigation capacity through major and medium-scale projects. Under PMKSY 2.0, nine projects were included between 2012 and 2022, with the Kosi-Mechi link being the tenth.
As the Kosi-Mechi project moves forward, it promises to transform agricultural prospects in North Bihar, ensuring stable water supply and improved resilience against floods.
