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The Kosi Balance Sheet

By Dinesh Kumar Mishra

Promised Irrigation
Through Eastern Kosi Main Canal                                    712,000 hectares
Slashed Down Target (1975)                                             374,000 hectares
Actual Irrigation    2003-04                                                  141,970 ha (19.94%)
                                2004-05                                                  91,560 ha ( 12.86%)
                                2005-06                                                  149,170 ha ( 20.95%)
                                2006-07                                                  124,130 ha ( 17.43%)
                                2007-08                                                  136,180 ha (19.13%)

Maximum that the canal irrigated was in 1983-84         213,133 ha (29.93%)

Western Kosi Main Canal Promised Irrigation               325,000 ha
Actual Irrigation    2003-04                                                  13,750   ha (4.23%)
                                2004-05                                                  17,390   ha ( 5.35%)
                                2005-06                                                   21,620   ha ( 6.65%)
                                2006-07                                                   25,310   ha (7.79%)
                                2007-08                                                   23,770   ha (7.31%)
The Canal that was estimated to cost Rs 13.49 Crores in 1963 has consumed Rs. 1009 Crores till March 2008 and the construction still continues.

Flood Protection

Promised Protected Area                                                      214,000 hectares
Land Waterlogged on the east
of the Eastern Kosi Embankment                                       182,000 ha (a)
Land waterlogged on the west
of the Western Embankment                                                123,000 ha (b)

Land permanently exposed to flooding / erosion/
sand casting between the two embankments                  110,000 ha ©

Sum of (a), (b) and ( c)                                                            4,15,000 ha

This year’s flood has hit 5 districts, 35 blocks, 412 GPs, 1026 villages, a population of 33.56 lakhs killing 162 persons and 767 cattle ( Official Report 25th September 2008)

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