User:Ganesh Paudel/sandbox

Sapta-Kosi High Dam also called Koshi High Dam is a multipurpose project proposed to construct on Saptakoshi River of Nepal. The project is primarily aimed to control floods in south-east Nepal and Northern Bihar of India and hydro power generation. A fascinated issue subsequently coming with this project is Nepal’s access to sea port via 165 km long navigation canal linking to Calcutta sea port through River Ganges.

After catastrophe (Koshi changing course breaking the embankments ) by erosion of embankments Koshi Barrage in 2008 and the 52 year old barrage's decaying life has given additional pressure to both governments for thinking about it's alternative.

Both governments of India and Nepal have begun studies for the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) of the Project and Sun Kosi Storage-cum-Diversion Scheme. A Joint Project Office (JPO) has been set up in Nepal for investigation of the project in August 2004.

Design and specification
A structure of a 269-meter (883 ft) high concrete or rock-filled dam, a barrage, and two canals are constructions to be made. The dam shall be on the Sapta Koshi River with an underground powerhouse, producing 3,000 MW at 50% load factor. The barrage is planned for the Sapta Koshi about 8 km (5.0 mi) downstream of Sapta Koshi High Dam to re-regulate the diverted water. The Eastern Chhatra Canal and Western Chhatra Canal, off-take from the barrage site to provide water for irrigation both in Nepal and India and navigation through Koshi up to Kursela and also in the reservoir of Sapta Koshi dam.

A power canal existing Koshi barrage at Hanuman Nagar is proposed for conveying water for irrigation from the Eastern Chatra Canal and also water that may be required downstream for navigation. To utilize the head available between Chatra and Hanuman Nagar barrages for power generation, three canal power houses, each of 100 MW installed capacity are proposed on the power canal.

Extra storage capacity of Sapta Koshi High Dam would be provided to moderate downstream flooding. Chatra Canal System would provide irrigation to large areas in Nepal and India (particularly in Bihar).

Background
Koshi High dam is a project that was studied, surveyed and revised by various authorities from centuries. In the history there were many notable heavy floods on Koshi river killing thousands and displacing millions people. To prevent losses first survey was conducted by British India Major J Renal in around 1779. Subsequently James Fargusan studied in 1863 and later A.F. Ceiling Field studied Koshi flood. British authority has reached to a decision of constructing embankments after the devastating flood of 1869-70.

British made an agreement with Rana rulers of Nepal to construct dam in Sunsari and Saptari districts of Nepal but the project failed after the flood of May 1891. In February 27 1897 Prime Minister Bir Shamsher Rana approved British India to construct a dam below Baraha Kshetra. Again in 1944 An American company studied for the British which suggested to construct dam in Churiya range. Following it A commission headed by Rayabahadur Ayodhyanath Khosala studied Koshi on ground in January 1946. He suggested to construct dam 1.6 Kilometer upstream from Barahakshetra area.

After independence India Government formed commission headed by Engineer S.P. Majumdar which suggested to construct 25.91 meter high dam in Belaka which ended up with Koshi Agreement 25 April 1954 and amended in 1966. Following the agreement India constructed the present Koshi Barrage (completed 24 April 1965)

Construction of Koshi Barrage gave a great relief to people in Bihar for long time but even it couldn't solve the problem. Concept of Saptakoshi High Dam was reinstated after Indian P.M. Atal Bihari Vajpayee introduced Indian Rivers Inter-link project in 2005. Sapta Koshi River is one of the major tributary branch of the Ganges river system that originates from the Himalaya and meets Ganga at Bihar. Koshi causes floods in Nepal and India every year. A big landmass of Bihar is affected by Koshi flood every year. Therefore Koshi is known as ‘sorrow of Bihar’

Criticism
From the very beginning the project has been criticized by people. The main issue raised against the ambitious project is its environmental and social impact. As currently outlined, the dam would displace people. Over 75,000 people shall be displaced from the land covered by the dam.

Critics argue thousand of hectare cultivated land will be filled inside the dam. and big number of people inhabitation shall be should live in fear of potential devastation of flood.