Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the inclusion of Bihar’s Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (PMKSY-AIBP). The initiative aims to harness surplus water from the Kosi River and extend irrigation benefits to the Mahananda basin in Bihar, thereby strengthening the agricultural sector in the region.
This decision includes a central financial support of Rs 3,652.56 crore, which will facilitate the project's completion by March 2029 at an estimated total cost of Rs 6,282.32 crore.
The project aims to remodel the existing Eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC) and extend it from its current endpoint at 41.30 km to 117.50 km, linking the Kosi and Mechi rivers. This strategic initiative will support irrigation for 210,516 hectares of agricultural land in the districts of Araria, Purnea, Kishanganj, and Katihar, ensuring improved water availability for farmers during the kharif season.
The project is also expected to mitigate the impact of floods in the region by channeling surplus water effectively, reducing waterlogging, and supporting groundwater recharge. Additionally, it will contribute to enhanced agricultural productivity, ensuring better crop yields and improved income for farmers in Bihar’s flood-prone districts.
Additionally, it is estimated that about 2,050 million cubic meters of surplus water from the Kosi will be diverted through the proposed link canal. This will help address irrigation shortfalls and restore supply to 157,000 hectares of existing command areas under the EKMC.
Launched in 2015-16, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) is a flagship initiative designed to improve water accessibility for farms, increase the area of cultivable land with guaranteed irrigation, and promote sustainable water conservation practices.
The government has allocated a total budget of Rs 93,068.56 crore for the implementation of PMKSY from 2021 to 2026, which includes Rs 37,454 crore as central assistance. Under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), significant progress has been made, with 63 projects completed since 2016, resulting in the creation of an additional irrigation potential of 26.11 lakh hectares.
The Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project marks the tenth project to be included under AIBP since the launch of PMKSY 2.0 in 2022.
