WAPCOS has signed an agreement with the state government of Jharkhand and Bihar for execution of the North Koel Reservoir projectof on a turnkey basis.

The project, located on North Koel river, has the potential to irrigate 1,11,521 ha of land annually in the drought prone areas of Palamu and Garhwa districts in Jharkhand and Aurangabad, and Gaya districts in Bihar.

The execution of the project will be monitored by an empowered committee of the central government, headed by CEO of the NITI Aayog.

The union cabinet has decided to complete the project after deciding to reduce height of the Mandal dam. The storage of water in the dam will now be restricted to a lower level in order to reduce the submergence and protect the National Park and the Tiger Reserve.

The total cost of the project, as assessed on date, is Rs 2,391.36 crore. An expenditure amounting to Rs 769.09 crore has already been incurred on the project.

In August 2017, the cabinet approved the proposal to complete the balance of the project at an estimated cost of Rs 1,622.27 crore during three financial years.