Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Gives Nod to Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project in Uttarakhand under PMKSY-AIBP

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has granted approval for the inclusion of the Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project in Uttarakhand under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP) of the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation.

The CCEA has committed central support of Rs. 1,557.18 crore to Uttarakhand for the project’s completion, with an estimated total cost of Rs. 2,584.10 crore set to be achieved by March 2028.

Key Highlights of the Project:

1. Project Scope: The Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project is designed to construct a dam near Jamrani village across the Gola River, a tributary of the Ram Ganga River, situated in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The dam will supply water to the existing Gola barrage through its extensive 40.5 km canal system and a 244 km long canal system that was originally completed in 1981.
2. Irrigation Benefits: The project’s main objective is to provide additional irrigation to an estimated 57,065 hectares (9,458 hectares in Uttarakhand and 47,607 hectares in Uttar Pradesh) in the Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts of Uttarakhand, as well as the Rampur and Bareilly districts in Uttar Pradesh. The project entails 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.
3. Hydro Power Generation: In addition to irrigation, the project also includes hydro power generation with a capacity of 14 MW, offering sustainable energy solutions.
4. Drinking Water Supply: The project will provide 42.70 million cubic meters (MCM) of drinking water to Haldwani and neighboring areas, benefiting a population of over 10.65 lakh.
5. Cost/Benefit Sharing: A significant portion of the irrigation benefits will be shared with the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh, in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2017. However, the advantages related to drinking water supply and power generation will be entirely allocated to Uttarakhand.

Background:

The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was initiated in 2015-16 with the goal of enhancing physical access to water for agriculture, expanding the cultivable area under assured irrigation, improving on-farm water utilization efficiency, and promoting sustainable water conservation practices. The government approved the implementation of PMKSY during 2021-26, with an overall allocation of Rs. 93,068.56 crore (including central assistance of Rs. 37,454 crore).

The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) component of PMKSY focuses on creating irrigation potential through major and medium irrigation projects. To date, 53 projects have been completed under PMKSY-AIBP, creating an additional irrigation potential of 25.14 lakh hectares. The Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project marks the seventh project to be included in the list after the AIBP component of PMKSY 2.0 was introduced in 2021-22.

The Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project is set to bring substantial agricultural and infrastructural benefits to the region, contributing to the overall development of Uttarakhand and neighboring states.