The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light for the inclusion of the Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project in Uttarakhand under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP) of the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation.
This crucial decision by the CCEA paves the way for substantial central support to the tune of Rs.1,557.18 crore for the completion of the project, which comes with an estimated cost of Rs.2,584.10 crore. The ambitious undertaking is slated for completion by March 2028. The Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project is set to be constructed near Jamrani village, spanning across the river Gola, a tributary of the Ram Ganga, located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The dam's primary purpose is to supply water to the existing Gola barrage, via a comprehensive 40.5 km canal system and a 244 km long canal system, originally completed back in 1981.
This multifaceted project aims to provide irrigation benefits to a vast expanse of 57,065 hectares, with 9,458 hectares in Uttarakhand and the remaining 47,607 hectares in Uttar Pradesh. The districts set to benefit from this initiative include Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarakhand, and Rampur, and Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.
Furthermore, the project blueprint includes the construction of two new feeder canals, the renovation of 207 km of existing canals, and the establishment of 278 km of pucca field channels. Additionally, the project envisions hydropower generation of 14 MW and the provision of 42.70 million cubic meters (MCM) of drinking water to Haldwani and its neighbouring areas, ultimately benefiting more than 10.65 lakh people.
A noteworthy aspect of the project is that a substantial portion of its irrigation benefits will extend to the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh. The cost-sharing and benefit allocation between the two states will be carried out in accordance with the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2017. However, the advantages in terms of drinking water and power generation will be solely accessible to Uttarakhand.
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was initiated during the 2015-16 fiscal year with the objective of enhancing access to water resources for agricultural purposes, expanding the cultivable area under assured irrigation, improving on-farm water use efficiency, and promoting sustainable water conservation practices.
The government of India has given the nod for the implementation of PMKSY from 2021 to 2026, with a total outlay of Rs. 93,068.56 crore, of which the central government has allocated Rs. 37,454 crore. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) component of PMKSY focuses on creating irrigation potential through major and medium irrigation projects.
As of now, 53 projects have been successfully completed under PMKSY-AIBP, resulting in the creation of additional irrigation potential spanning 25.14 lakh hectares. The inclusion of the Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project marks the seventh project to be added to the list since the inception of PMKSY 2.0 in 2021-22.
