KISHANGANJ, Oct. 2 -- Land acquisition for the second phase of the ambitious Kosi-Mechi Link project has officially begun with authorities identifying 571.34 acres in Bihar's Kishanganj district, officials said on Thursday. The project, likely to be operational by March 2029, is being touted as a transformative development for the agrarian landscape of the Seemanchal region, they added. The Kosi-Mechi Intra state link project is a major water management scheme in Bihar which links the Kosi River to the Mechi River, a tributary of Mahananda joining Mahananda in Kishanganj by remodelling and extending the eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC). Kishanganj district magistrate (DM) Naveen Kumar while confirming the start of the second phase of Kosi-Mechi Link project said, "The land has been identified for the purpose." Land acquisition officer Akshaywat Tiwari said, "Approximately 571 acres of land spanning across three circles -- Bahadurganj, Terhagachh and Thakurganj -- has been identified. The total land, which spans 552 acres, is private. While 19 acres is government land. Giving details of the land, he said, "In Bahadurganj 454 acres (13 acres government land), Terhagachh 99 acres (3 acres government land) and Thakurganj 17 acres (2 acres of government land) land have been identified." He said, adding, "We'll notify the land owners regarding the acquisition soon." The total length of the Kosi-Mechi project canal system is 117.50 kms with 41.30 km of the existing EKMC while the extension of 76.20 km of the canal from 41.30 km to 117.50 km will connect it to the Mechi River at Makhanpur village a confluence point of Mechi and Mahananda Rivers. Once the project gets operational, it will be able to divert excess water from the Kosi River to the water deficit Mahananda basin to provide irrigation and aide in flood mitigation, officials said....