Description
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Context: The long-awaited Kosi-Mechi river interlinking project in Bihar is closer to becoming a reality, with the Union Budget 2024-25 allocating a substantial Rs 11,500 crore.
Details
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Particulars
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Kosi River
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Mechi River
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Origin
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- Confluence of three streams: The Sun Kosi, The Arun Kosi, and The Tamur Kosi.
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- Mahabharat Range in Nepal
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Also known as
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- Saptakoshi for its seven upper tributaries.
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Flow
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- Trans-boundary river which flows through China, Nepal, and India
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- Trans-boundary river flowing through Nepal and India
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Tributary of
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- Left bank: Ganges, near Kursela in Katihar district.
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- Right Bank: Mahananda River, join at kishanganj district of Bihar.
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Length
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River basin borders
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- Tsangpo River basin in the north, Mahananda River basin in the east, Ganges Basin in the south and the Gandaki River basin in the west.
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- Part of Mahananda River basin.
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Drainage
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- 74,500 sq.km, only 11,070 sq.km lie within Indian Territory.
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- Part of Mahananda River drainage which is 11,530 square kilometers.
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Tributaries
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- Sun Koshi, Tama Koshi or Tamba Koshi, Dudh Koshi, Indravati, Likhu, Arun, and Tamore or Tamar.
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Peaks located in the basin.
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- Mount Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Shishapangma.
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Projects
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- Kosi Barrage or Bhimnagar Barrage.
- Kosi-Mechi Interlink.
- Sapta Koshi High Dam Multipurpose Project.
- Sun Koshi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme.
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Vulnerability
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- Kosi is known as the "sorrow of Bihar", as it has caused widespread human suffering in the past due to flooding and very frequent changes in course.
- (During the last 200 years, the river has shifted westwards for a distance of about 112 km)
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The project
- This project is a green project.
- Its environmental approval note states the project involves no displacement of population and there is no acquisition of any forest land'.
- This project will provide a diversion to the surplus water of Kosi River through existing Hanuman Nagar barrage to Mechi River of Mahananda basin by a 2 km long canal.
- Purpose of the project flood control and irrigation for over 14 lakh hectares.
- There are no national parks, wildlife sanctuaries or eco-sensitive zones within 10 km radius of the project.
Bihar flood
Bihar is the state most affected by floods, accounting for close to 17.2 per cent of the total flood-prone areas in the country. Of the total 9.41 million ha, 6.88 million ha — 76 per cent of north Bihar and 73 per cent of south Bihar — is flood-prone. Currently, 28 of 38 districts in the state are flood-prone.
Ken-Betwa interlink project: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/ken-betwa-link-project-38#:~:text=The%20Ken%2DBetwa%20Link%20Project,are%20tributaries%20of%20river%20Yamuna.
Sources:
Downtoearth, Wikipedia.
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PRACTICE QUESTION
Q. India’s river linking project is the need of the hour which can solve dual problem of droughts and floods. Justify 150 words.
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