“ERCP means Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project” It is an ambitious project of Rajasthan state to transfer the surplus water available in the tributary river basins of Chambal basin like Parvati, Kalisindh, Kunnu, Kool, Mej rivers to the low water river basins during monsoon. Recently, the state government has signed a tripartite agreement with the Center and Madhya Pradesh for the amended ERCP-PKC link project. The report of this project was prepared and sent to the Central Water Commission on 19 November 2017 during the BJP rule, but due to Congress making it a political issue, this project remained in abeyance for years and remained an issue of electoral politics. Its DPR was not properly made & presented and it remained incomplete during the tenure of the Congress party. But as soon as the Bhajanlal government came to power, the ERCP project again gained momentum.
Bhajanlal Government is fulfilling Modi’s Guarantee
Taking forward Modi Ji’s promise of declaring ERCP i.e. Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project a national project, the Union Jal Shakti Minister held meetings with officials of both the states in Delhi as soon as the BJP government was formed in Rajasthan and Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma held talks with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Mohan Yadav. Resolving the 20 year old dispute opened the way for getting the project off the ground. With the modified ERCP-PKC Link Project, work will now be done to ensure availability of drinking water to not 13 but 21 districts of Rajasthan. In the new agreement, the provision of water available under the project has been kept more than the previous one. Earlier, provision of about 49 percent water out of 3510 million cubic meters was made under this, which has now increased to 3677 million cubic meters.
Water will be Available for Drinking Water, Industry and Irrigation
21 districts of the state like Jhalawar, Baran, Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Gangapur City, Karauli, Dholpur, Bharatpur, Deeg, Dausa, Alwar, Khairthal-Tijara, Jaipur, Jaipur Rural, Kotputli-Behror, Ajmer, Beawar, Kekri, Tonk, Dudu will benefit from Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) and drinking water availability can be ensured in these districts till the year 2051. Apart from this, it is also proposed to provide water to 26 already constructed major and medium irrigation projects through this project. Due to which, along with ensuring the availability of water in these dams, 0.8 lakh hectare irrigated area can be restored and also 2.0 lakh hectare new area can be provided irrigation facility through micro irrigation system. Under this project, 286 million cubic meters of water will also be made available for the use of industries and Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). Not only this, 6 barrages and one dam will also be constructed in the state under ERCP. 2 lakh hectares of new irrigated area will be developed through the water of this dam. Pumping stations will also be built at 15 places in the project.
Decades Old Demand of Eastern Rajasthan Fulfilled
Recently, Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma along with Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat conducted an aerial survey of the main components of the project, Bisalpur Dam, Mej Barrage, Kalisindh Dam, Chambal Crossing, Dungri Dam and Rameshwar Ghat. The Chief Minister also inspected the construction works of Navnera Barrage and Isarda Dam, the two main under-construction components of the project. The excess water of Navnera Dam built on Kalisindh River will be released into Banas River and brought to Isarda Dam. By connecting Navnera Dam and Isarda Dam, the wasted water of Chambal and Yamuna rivers will be used for irrigation and drinking water needs. The Central Government, Madhya Pradesh Government and Rajasthan Government are determined for the early implementation of integrated ERCP. The target has been set to complete the project in the next 5 years. With the implementation of the integrated ERCP project, the decades-old demand of Eastern Rajasthan is going to be fulfilled. Which, after coming on the ground, will prove to be a boon for Eastern Rajasthan.
Conclusion:
The term ERCP stands for Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project is a significant step towards water sufficiency, promising to meet the region’s drinking water, industrial, and irrigation needs till 2051. This collaborative effort between the Central Government and the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan exemplifies sustainable development and is set to bring economic growth and prosperity to Eastern Rajasthan. As the project progresses, it will serve as an exemplary model of strategic resource management for the entire nation.