Rs.1,622.27 crore financing agreement signed
The construction of North Koel project is set to resume following the financial arrangements agreed on 12 Jan 2018 in New Delhi.
The project across Bihar and Jharkhand will be completed in 30 months from the re-start of work.
The major components of project are: 67.86 m high and 343.33 m long concrete dam called Mandal dam originally intended to store 1,160 million cubic metre (MCM) water; 819.6 m long barrage at Mohammadganj, 96 km downstream of the dam; and two canals originating from left and right banks of Mohammadganj Barrage with distributaries system for irrigation.
With the new lowered elevation level (EL) of 341 metre, the Mandal dam will now have storage of 190 MCM.
The unfinished project as on date is providing irrigation to 71,720 hectares and completion of this project will provide additional irrigation benefit to the extent of 39,801 hectares.
It was started in 1972 but halted in 1993. The project situated on North Koel river, a tributary of Sone river, will provide irrigation to 111,521 hectares of land annually in the most backward and drought prone areas of Palamu and Garhwa districts in Jharkhand and Aurangabad and Gaya districts in Bihar.
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, and Bihar and Jharkhand states for completion of balance works reservoir at an estimated cost of Rs.1,622.27 crore.
A supplementary Memorandum of Agreement has also been signed between the Ministry, National Water Development Agency, NABARD, and Bihar and Jharkhand states for funding of the state share under Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) the reservoir project.
The MoU was signed on 12th January 2018.
In August 2017, the Cabinet had approved execution of balance works of the project on turnkey basis by WAPCOS Ltd., a Central Public Sector Unit, as Project Management Consultant. The execution of the project will be monitored by an Empowered Committee of Government of India headed by CEO NITI Aayog. fii-news.com
