River interlinking projects yet to get Centre’s nod

PATNA: The state water resources department (WRD) is awaiting Centre’s clearance for two river interlinking projects and strengthening of the Sone canal system. The three projects would entail an expenditure of Rs 8,272 crore.
The WRD has presented the three projects as national ones, implying that its financing should be done by the Centre. “If the two river interlinking projects are implemented, it will help in flood protection besides facilitating irrigation in a huge chunk of land in the eastern and southern Bihar districts,” said a WRD official.
He added that strengthening of the Sone canal system is the third ambitious project aimed at strengthening the slopes and bed of the Sone canal that caters to irrigation related demands of farmers of the districts concerned.
One of the two river interlinking projects envisages interlinking of the Kosi and the Mechi rivers that would benefit farmers of Supaul, Saharsa, Araria, Kishanganj and Purnia districts. The project entails an expenditure of Rs 4,900 crore.
The official added that Central Water Commission (CWC) has cleared the Kosi-Mechi interlinking project subject to clearance from the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF). “We are hopeful that the MoEF would give early clearance to it,” the official said.
On the other hand, the state WRD has already submitted the details of the Rs 572 crore Sakri-Nata river interlinking project to CWC. “The CWC has yet not given its clearance to this project, but the process has reached an advanced stage,” the WRD official said, adding that the project envisages irrigation benefits to farmers of Nawada, Nalanda and Sheikhpura districts in 68,800 hectares of land.
The strengthening of Sone canal would entain an expenditure of Rs 2,800 crore. The state WRD officials said the Centre would give its nod to the three projects as PM Narendra Modi has been referring frequently to the launch of second green revolution in the eastern region of the country.