- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:47 PM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has laid the foundation stone for the expansion, renovation, and modernisation of the Western Kosi Canal in Madhubani district. Valued at Rs 7,832.29 crore, the project is expected to bring a transformative impact to the agricultural sector in Darbhanga and Madhubani districts over the next 2-3 years, enabling year-round bumper crops similar to those in Punjab and Haryana, according to JDU’s acting national president and Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Kumar Jha.
Sanjay Kumar Jha described the move as a historic step towards the development of Mithila and expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the central government’s financial support.
The Western Kosi main canal stretches 91.82 km, with 35.13 km in Nepal and 56.69 km in India. Under the project, 741 km of canals will be lined with cement-concrete to ensure an uninterrupted water supply for irrigation during both Rabi and Kharif seasons, increasing the annual irrigation capacity to over 291,000 hectares and raising irrigation intensity to 135 per cent.
The project also includes the construction of 338 km of roads along one embankment, 260 new bridges, and the repair of 407 existing bridges. Additionally, 558 new regulators will be built alongside repairs to 218 existing ones, and 158 cross-drainage structures will be constructed, with 127 existing ones repaired. These measures aim to improve irrigation efficiency and floodwater management in the region.
Sanjay Kumar Jha highlighted that while previous governments in Bihar had initiated irrigation schemes, they lacked a clear strategy for completion. The Nitish Kumar government has advanced the Western Kosi Canal project with a clear roadmap. The project received final state cabinet approval in July 2024, following financial support announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the 2024 Union Budget.