Approval & Funding
Approved under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana – Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY–AIBP).
Estimated Cost: ₹6,282.32 crore.
Central Assistance: ₹3,652.56 crore.
Target Completion: March 2029.
Purpose & Benefits
Diverts 2,050 million cubic metres of surplus water from Kosi River to Mechi River during monsoon.
Aims to manage floods and enhance irrigation in North Bihar.
Scope of Work
Reconstruction of 41.30 km of the existing Eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC).
Extension of EKMC by 117.50 km to connect with the Mechi River.
Beneficiary Districts
Araria
Purnea
Kishanganj
Katihar
Madhepura
Irrigation Impact
New coverage: 2,10,516 hectares of additional annual irrigation (mainly in Kharif season).
Restoration: Supply to 1.57 lakh hectares in existing EKMC command area.
About PMKSY
Launched in 2015-16 to expand irrigation coverage, improve water use efficiency, and promote sustainable water conservation practices.
PMKSY–AIBP focuses on creating irrigation potential through major and medium irrigation projects.
As of now, 63 projects completed since April 2016, creating 26.11 lakh hectares of additional irrigation capacity.
Kosi–Mechi project is the 10th project added under PMKSY–AIBP since PMKSY 2.0 (2021–26).