Cabinet Approves Inclusion of Jamrani Dam Project in PMKSY-AIBP, Initiative to Bring Myriad Benefits to Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi:In a significant development, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the inclusion of the Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project in Uttarakhand into the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP) under the aegis of the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation.

This approval comes with a central support of Rs.1,557.18 crore for Uttarakhand, aiming to complete the project with an estimated cost of Rs.2,584.10 crore by March 2028.

The Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project is set to be constructed near Jamrani village, spanning across the Gola River, a tributary of the Ramganga River, situated in Uttarakhand's Nainital district. This dam will replenish the existing Gola barrage through its extensive 40.5 km canal system and a 244 km long canal network, originally completed in 1981.

This comprehensive project envisions several far-reaching benefits, including the augmentation of irrigation across 57,065 hectares of land. This expansion comprises 9,458 hectares in Uttarakhand and a substantial 47,607 hectares in Uttar Pradesh, covering the districts of Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Rampur, and Bareilly.

In addition to the construction of two new feeder canals, the renovation of 207 km of existing canals, and the development of 278 km of concrete field channels are also integral components of this project. Furthermore, the initiative includes plans for hydropower generation, contributing 14 MW to the region's power infrastructure. Notably, it is set to provide a generous supply of 42.70 million cubic meters of drinking water to Haldwani and neighboring areas, significantly benefiting over 10.65 lakh residents.

It is crucial to underline that a significant proportion of the irrigation benefits from the project will be shared with the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh, in accordance with the terms laid out in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) established in 2017. Nevertheless, the advantages related to drinking water and power generation will be entirely accessible to the state of Uttarakhand.

The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was introduced in 2015-16 with the primary objective of augmenting the physical accessibility of water for agricultural use and expanding cultivable areas with assured irrigation. It also aims to improve on-farm water use efficiency and introduce sustainable water conservation practices. The government has approved the continuation of PMKSY from 2021 to 2026, with an overall budget of Rs. 93,068.56 crore, including central assistance of Rs. 37,454 crore.

Under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) component of PMKSY, the program targets the creation of irrigation potential through major and medium-scale irrigation projects. To date, 53 projects have been successfully completed under PMKSY-AIBP, resulting in the creation of additional irrigation potential spanning 25.14 lakh hectares. Since 2021-22, six more projects have been incorporated into PMKSY 2.0 under the AIBP component, with the Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project marking the seventh addition to the list.

This project is poised to not only bolster agricultural and irrigation capabilities but also significantly contribute to the regions' overall development and prosperity, exemplifying the government's commitment to comprehensive and sustainable growth.