Patna: Bihar’s ambitious Kosi-Mechi Link Project moved a step closer to reality on Thursday when Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, Union Minister of State Raj Bhushan Chaudhary, and Bihar’s Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary conducted a detailed review of the project. The ministers arrived in Patna and were welcomed by the Water Resources Minister at the state hangar of Patna Airport. Principal Secretary Santosh Kumar Malla gave a presentation explaining the project’s importance and its expected impact on the region.
The project aims to create additional irrigation facilities for more than 2.15 lakh hectares of farmland in Bihar. It will transfer surplus water from the Kosi river to the Mechi river during flood season, revive the Eastern Main Canal, and widen the Mechi river over a 41 km stretch. Officials said this would not only boost agricultural production but also reduce the risk of flooding, which has been a major problem for people living in north Bihar.
Union Ministers, along with state officials, conducted an aerial survey of the Kosi-Mechi area to examine key project points. The foundation stone for the project is expected to be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his proposed visit to Purnia on 15 September. The Water Resources Minister said that this project is a big step toward securing the future of farmers by ensuring regular water supply and controlling floods that damage crops and property every year.
Other important projects, such as the Western Kosi Canal Restoration Project and the Bagmati Embankment Project, were also reviewed in the meeting. These projects aim to strengthen flood protection, improve embankments and canals, and provide long-term solutions for disaster management in the state. The Water Resources Minister stressed that Bihar has learned lessons from the devastating floods of last year and is now better prepared, but additional funds are needed to speed up flood control works. Officials said these combined efforts will protect lives, improve agricultural productivity, and ensure a safer and more prosperous future for the people of Bihar.
