• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved inclusion of Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project of Bihar under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (PMKSY-AIBP) of Ministry of Jal Shakti. 

• The project envisages diversion of a part of surplus Kosi water for extending irrigation to Mahananda basin in Bihar by way of remodelling existing Eastern Kosi Main Canal.

• Estimated to cost Rs 6,282.32 crore, the project includes Rs 3,652.56 crore as central assistance to Bihar and is scheduled for completion by March 2029.

• The Kosi Mechi project is the tenth to be included in the AIBP component of PMKSY since 2021.

Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project

• The Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project aims to divert excess water from the Kosi River to the Mahanadi basin in Bihar. This will be achieved through the remodelling of the Eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC) up to 41.30 km and its extension to the Mechi River at 117.50 km. 

• Once completed, the project aims to provide additional irrigation to 2,10,516 hectares of farmland in Araria, Purnea, Kishanganj, and Katihar districts during the Kharif season. 

• It will also restore the shortfall supply to 1.57 lakh hectares currently irrigated by the existing EKMC system. Additionally, about 2,050 million cubic meters of surplus water from Kosi will be diverted to the Mahananda command area during monsoons.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana

• Launched on July 1, 2015, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) is being implemented to expand cultivated areas with assured irrigation, reduce wastage of water and improve water use efficiency.

• PMKSY is an umbrella scheme, providing central grants to the state governments for specific activities.

• The government approved implementation of PMKSY during 2021-26 with an overall outlay of Rs 93,068.56 crore (central assistance of Rs 37,454 crore). 

• PMKSY consists of two major components by the department of water resources, river development and ganga rejuvenation. 

They are:

1) Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) 

2) Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP). 

• In addition, Watershed Development part is being implemented by the department of land resources.

• Another component of PMKSY, ‘Per Drop More Crop’ is being implemented by the department of agriculture and farmers welfare.

Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme

• It is a flagship programme of the government that aims for financial support to irrigation projects. 

• Total additional irrigation potential creation targeted during 2021-26 under AIBP is 13.88 lakh hectare. 

• The inclusion criteria have been relaxed for projects under tribal and drought prone areas.

• Since April 2016, as many as 63 projects have been completed under PMKSY-AIBP, creating additional irrigation potential for 26.11 lakh hectares. 

Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP)

HKKP consists of four sub-components. They are:

i) Command Area Development (CAD)

ii) Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI)

iii) Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies

iv) Ground Water Development.

• It aims for enhancement of physical access on the farm and expansion of cultivable area under assured irrigation. 

• Under HKKP, Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) and Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies sub-components are targeted to provide additional 4.5 lakh hectare irrigation. 

• In view of the importance of rejuvenation of water bodies, the Cabinet has approved a paradigm shift in funding of their rejuvenation in both urban and rural areas, with significant expansion of their inclusion criteria, and enhancement of central assistance from 25-60 per cent in general area. 

• Further, the Ground Water Development component of HKKP, approved provisionally for 2021-22, targets creation of irrigation potential of 1.52 lakh hectare.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)