Kosi-Mechi River linking

26th July, 2024 Geography

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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

Particulars	Kosi River	Mechi River
Origin	Confluence of three streams: The Sun Kosi, The Arun Kosi, and The Tamur Kosi.	Mahabharat Range in Nepal
Also known as	Saptakoshi for its seven upper tributaries.
Flow	Trans-boundary river which flows through China, Nepal, and India	Trans-boundary river flowing through Nepal and India
Tributary of	Left bank: Ganges, near Kursela in Katihar district.	Right Bank: Mahananda River, join at kishanganj district of Bihar.
Length	729 km
River basin borders	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.	Part of Mahananda River basin.
Drainage	74,500 sq.km, only 11,070 sq.km lie within Indian Territory.	Part of Mahananda River drainage which is 11,530 square kilometers.
Tributaries	Sun Koshi, Tama Koshi or Tamba Koshi, Dudh Koshi, Indravati, Likhu, Arun, and Tamore or Tamar.
Peaks located in the basin.	Mount Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Shishapangma.
Projects	Kosi Barrage or Bhimnagar Barrage. Kosi-Mechi Interlink. Sapta Koshi High Dam Multipurpose Project. Sun Koshi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme.	Kosi-Mechi Interlink
Vulnerability	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)

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.

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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Kosi-Mechi River linking