Concerns raised over Kosi-Mechi river linking project's flood control, irrigation claims

By A Representative 
The central cabinet's approval of the Kosi-Mechi river linking project, announced by the Press Information Bureau on March 28, 2025, has drawn scrutiny. This initiative is positioned as the country's second major river linking project following the Ken-Betwa link, with purported benefits including relief from Kosi floods and enhanced irrigation in the Seemanchal districts of Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj, and Katihar.
However, non-governmental organizations, including the Kosi Navnirman Manch, have voiced significant reservations. Following the Finance Minister's funding announcement the previous year, these groups analyzed the Detailed Project Report (DPR) available on the National Water Development Agency's website, alongside their own field studies. They subsequently called for governmental clarification and a white paper to address perceived discrepancies between the project's stated aims and the likely outcomes. As of yet, no official response has been issued.
According to these NGOs, the claim that the project will significantly mitigate or eliminate Kosi floods appears unsubstantiated by the DPR. They highlight that the project anticipates diverting 20,247 cusecs of water from the Kosi Eastern Main Canal, which is being remodeled from its existing 15,000 cusec capacity. This represents an additional diversion of only 5,247 cusecs. 

Given that the Kosi River experienced flows exceeding 6.81 lakh cusecs in September 2024, and the Bhimnagar Barrage has a design capacity of 9.5 lakh cusecs, the NGOs argue that the diverted water, even if the project were fully operational during such high flows, would constitute less than 1% (0.77%) of the total flow, thus having a negligible impact on flood levels. They also point to the practice of closing the Kosi Eastern and Western canal gates during high water flow, questioning the actual diversion capacity during flood events.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the irrigation benefits. NGOs note that the project primarily targets irrigation of 2.15 lakh hectares during the Kharif season in Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj, and Katihar. This period typically coincides with substantial rainfall in the Mahananda basin, averaging 1640 mm over 55 days. They question the necessity and effectiveness of irrigation during a rainy season, while the need for water is more critical during the Rabi season, for which a high dam is proposed as a future solution. 

Furthermore, they point to the historical underachievement of the Kosi Eastern Main Canal's irrigation targets, which were initially set at 7.12 lakh hectares but later reduced to 3.38 lakh hectares without full realization. The NGOs express apprehension that this pattern of unmet targets may repeat with the current project, potentially leading to conflicts between farmers in older and newer command areas.
Environmental groups also warn of the potential for increased floods and waterlogging due to the project's design, which involves crossing 13 Himalayan rivers via siphons with structures perpendicular to the river flows. 

They argue that during the monsoon, when these rivers experience high velocity flows and flooding, these siphons and perpendicular structures could exacerbate waterlogging and flood risks, referencing a past breach in the Kosi Eastern Canal near Bathnaha in Araria district where a river crossing via siphon occurred in 2017. 

The potential negative impacts on the environment and biodiversity, consistent with other river linking projects, are also highlighted, including the differing silt content in the Kosi and Mahananda rivers.
These organizations suggest that the project may be presenting a misleading picture of flood relief and irrigation benefits to farmers and flood victims, potentially serving electoral and commercial interests instead. They are urging the central and state governments to respond to their concerns with a factual white paper, and if their analysis proves correct, to reconsider the project and explore alternative solutions for flood mitigation and irrigation in the Kosi region.