Interlinking of rivers project gets clearance by water panel

The Central Water Commission (CWC) has given hydrological clearance to Rajasthan’s first interlinking of rivers project called Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP).

ERCP aims to provide drinking water to 40% of state population through interlinking of rivers. It proposes to provide drinking water to 13 districts by tapping surplus rain water.

On ground, the ERCP would also provide drinking water to over 20 dams of 13 districts– Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar, Dholpur, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Jaipur, Tonk, Dausa, Alwar, Bharatpur and Karauli.

Rajasthan river basin and water resource planning authority chief Sriram Vedire said the CWC has given hydrological clearance to ERCP and the process for interstate permission has also been started.

Vedire said that the estimated cost of the project is Rs 37,000 crore but after revising, it would come down to
Rs 35,000 crore.

Recently, chief minister Vasundhara Raje, in a meeting of NITI Aayog, had demanded that the proposed project be designated as a national project. She stated that ERCP report has already received in-principal approval from the centre and its acceptance as national project will speed up the venture.

A senior official said that if the interstate river interlinking is given a national project stamp, then 90% fund may be provided by the government of India.

The concept on which the Rajasthan river basin and water resource planning authority is working proposes interlinking of rivers and constructing barrages. The scheme focuses on utilisation of excess water of Chambal’s distributaries Parvati and Kali Sindh to Dholpur.