Cabinet Committee Approves Uttarakhand's Jamrani Dam Project in PMKSY-AIBP
The cabinet committee on economic affairs has given nod to the inclusion of Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project in Uttarakhand in the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Accelerated Watering Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP) of the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation. The committee was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As per official statement, the CCEA has approved central support of Rs.1,557.18 crore to Uttarakhand for completion of the project with estimated cost of Rs.2,584.10 crore by March, 2028.
The project aims to construct a dam in the Uttarakhand region of Nainital, close to Jamrani village, spanning the Gola River, a tributary of the Ram Ganga. The completed 244 km and 40.5 km canal systems of the dam will supply water to the Gola barrage that is now in place. The canal system was finished in 1981.
The project further plans additional irrigation of 57,065 ha (9,458 ha in Uttarakhand and 47,607 ha in Uttar Pradesh) in Nainital & Udham Singh Nagar districts of Uttarakhand, and Rampur & Bareilly districts in Uttar Pradesh.
Apart from construction of two new feeder canals, 207 km of existing canals are to be renovated and 278 km pucca field channels are also to be taken up under the project. In addition, the project also envisages hydro power generation of 14 MW, as well as provision of 42.70 million cubic metre (MCM) of drinking water to Haldwani and nearby areas benefitting more than 10.65 lakh population.
A substantial part of irrigation benefits of the project would flow to the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh, and cost/ benefit sharing between the two States is to be done as per an MoU signed in 2017. However, drinking water and power benefits shall be available entirely to Uttarakhand.
It may be noted that the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched during the year 2015-16, with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices, etc. Government of India has approved implementation of PMKSY during 2021-26 with an overall outlay of Rs.93,068.56 crore (central assistance of Rs. 37,454 crore). Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) component of PMKSY is for creation of irrigation potential through major and medium irrigation projects. So far 53 projects have been completed under PMKSY-AIBP and additional irrigation potential of 25.14 lakh hectare has been created. Six projects have been included after the AIBP component of PMKSY 2.0 since 2021-22. Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project is the seventh project to be included in the list.
