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- Cabinet has approved Rs. 4,900 crore for Kosi-Mechi interlinking project in Bihar.
- The central government has approved the second river interlinking project after the Ken-Betwa project in Madhya Pradesh.
- The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change gave its nod to the state’s Kosi-Mechi river linking (KMRL) project, paving the way for work to begin next year
- To be undertaken at a cost of around Rs 4,900 crore, the KMRL project is likely to be completed in five years.
- Once completed, it will irrigate 2.14 lakh hectares in four Seema chal -59,970 hectares in Araria, 59,642 hectares in Purnia, 39,548 hectares in Kishanganj, and 35,635 in Katihar district of Purnia division.
- A 76.2km canal will be built to link the two rivers basins of Kosi (Supaul and Saharsa districts) in the west with Mechi basin in Kishananj on the east, and their linkage with the Mahananda basin, further east.
Kosi-Mechi Interlinking Project
- This project can provide relief to the region from the menace of recurring floods. Also, it will provide irrigation facility to more than 2.14 lakh hectares of command areas spread across the districts of Kishanganj, Araria, Katihar and Purnia in north Bihar.
- This project will provide a diversion to the surplus water of Kosi River through existing Hanuman Nagar barrage to Mechi River of Mahananda basin.
- Mechi River will get water from another source and it will become a vast natural resource of irrigation.
- This project has a possibility to escort the next green revolution in Seemanchal region. This project involves no displacement of population and there is no diversion of any forest land.
- Another benefit of the project is that there is no national park, wildlife sanctuary; eco-sensitive areas, etc. are present within 10 kilometres (km) radius of the project.
About Ken-Betwa Interlinking Project
- Ken-Betwa Interlinking is country’s first river interlinking project that will connect two rivers in Madhya Pradesh.
- The project aims to transfer surplus water of Ken River to the Betwa basin through a concrete canal to irrigate India’s worst drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
- This project will help irrigate an area of 6.35 lakh hectares annually in Bundelkhand region.
- Two powerhouses of 2×30 MW and 3×6 MW each, 221 km long Ken-Betwa link canal and two of 1.9 km long upper level are other attractions of the project.
Source: The Hindu