Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP)

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Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP)

News: Despite the recently held high meeting between India and Nepal, the consensus over sharing benefits of the
Pancheshwar project is not resolved.

About:
• The Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project aims to harness the waters of the Mahakali River, which forms the border between India and Nepal. Its primary objectives include hydropower generation and irrigation.
• Energy Generation: The project is designed to generate approximately 6,480 megawatts (MW) of electricity, which will be equally divided between India and Nepal.
• Irrigation: It also provides water for the irrigation of 130,000 hectares of land in Nepal and 240,000 hectares in Indian territory.

Concerns surrounding the project:
• Dam Height: There are disagreements over the height of the dam. Finding a mutually acceptable solution has been challenging.
• Submergence Area: The project’s impact on the submergence area and the associated environmental consequences remain a point of contention.
• Downstream Benefits: The two sides have differing views on the distribution of downstream benefits, particularly related to irrigation and flood control.
• The project remains stalled due to the inability of both countries to reach a consensus on benefit-sharing