Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP)

Mains level: Read the attached story

Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP)

In the news

Despite the recent agreement between India and Nepal, discussions over the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) remain deadlocked.

About Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP)

It is a bi-national project between India and Nepal, aimed primarily at energy production and enhancing irrigation in both countries.
It involves the construction of a 315-meter high dam across the River Mahakali (Sarada in India).
It forms an 80 km long reservoir with a surface area of 116 km square and a total gross storage volume of about 11.35 billion cubic meters.
Once completed, the PMP is expected to have a capacity of 5,040 megawatts (MW) and will be among the tallest dams globally, with an estimated cost ranging from Rs. 401.84 billion to Rs. 500 billion.
The project’s objectives include energy production and irrigation enhancement, but environmentalists have raised concerns about its potential impact on the region’s ecology and local communities.
This project underscores the progress of the Mahakali Treaty signed in February 1996 between India and Nepal includes provisions for the integrated development of the Mahakali River basin.

Benefit Sharing: Disagreements arise over the distribution of benefits, with India receiving a larger share of irrigation benefits while Nepal emphasizes the value of water as a precious resource.
Political and Bureaucratic Challenges: Political considerations, including impending elections in India and domestic political fragility in Nepal, hinder progress. Bureaucratic concerns further impede consensus-building.

	Details
Mahakali River	Also known as Sharda River or Kali Ganga in Uttarakhand. Joins Ghagra River in Uttar Pradesh, a tributary of the Ganga.
Signatories and Date	Signed between Nepal and India on February 12, 1996.
Objective	Aimed at the integrated development of the Mahakali River, including projects like the Sarada Barrage, Tanakpur Barrage, and Pancheshwar Project.
Ratification Process	Required a two-thirds majority in the combined session of both houses of the Nepalese parliament. Faced opposition and scrutiny from parliamentarians during the process.
Establishment of Commission	Provision for the establishment of a Mahakali River Commission to oversee and regulate matters outlined in the treaty.