Geography & BiodiversityImportant2025-03-15

Centre Approves Kosi-Mechi River Interlinking Project Under PMKSY-AIBP

In News

What Happened

In March 2025, the Union Cabinet approved the Kosi-Mechi Intra-State River Link Project in Bihar under the PMKSY-AIBP scheme. The Rs 6,282 crore project aims to divert surplus water from the flood-prone Kosi river to the Mahananda basin via the Mechi river. The project has a targeted completion date of March 2029.

Why It Matters

It is India's second major river interlinking project (after Ken-Betwa) and Bihar's first intra-state river link. By transferring water from a water-surplus basin to a water-deficient one, it simultaneously tackles the infamous Kosi floods (the 'Sorrow of Bihar') and provides critical irrigation to over 2.1 lakh hectares in the Seemanchal region.

Background

History & Context

The idea of interlinking the Kosi and Mechi rivers was first mooted by the Bihar government in 2014 following initial assessments by the National Water Development Agency (NWDA). It builds upon the legacy of the joint Koshi Project (1954) between India and Nepal, which originally created the Eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC). The project is now formally incorporated into the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana - Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP), a core central scheme launched in 2015 to fast-track major irrigation infrastructure.

What Changed

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BEFORE: The existing Eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC) ended at a reduced distance of 41.30 km. NOW: The canal will be remodeled, strengthened, and extended up to 117.50 km to connect directly with the Mechi river.
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BEFORE: Unmanaged surplus monsoon water in the Kosi river basin regularly caused severe downstream flooding in North Bihar. NOW: Approximately 2,050 million cubic meters of surplus Kosi water will be safely diverted to the Mahananda basin during the monsoon season.
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BEFORE: The Mechi river basin lacked sufficient water availability to sustain wide-scale agriculture during the Kharif season. NOW: The project will provide reliable annual irrigation to over 2.14 lakh hectares across districts like Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj, and Katihar.
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BEFORE: The project faced delays due to a lack of assured central funding. NOW: Inclusion under PMKSY-AIBP guarantees Rs 3,652 crore in Central assistance, ensuring a strict project completion deadline of March 2029.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This development directly connects to Class 11 Geography Chapter 3 (Drainage System), which discusses the Himalayan drainage system, river regimes, and the shifting courses of antecedent rivers like the Kosi. The interlinking project is a practical application of basin-transfer concepts used to manage highly variable monsoon discharges and mitigate flood disasters.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements regarding the Kosi-Mechi River Interlinking Project is/are correct? 1. The project diverts surplus water from the Kosi river basin to the Mahananda river basin via the Mechi river. 2. It is India's first major inter-state river linking project.

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