Madhya Pradesh (MP), Rajasthan, and Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), Government of India (GoI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for implementation of the “Modified PKC-ERCP” (Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal with Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project) Link Project.
Key people:
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Mohan Yadav(Chief Minister of MP), Shriram Vedire, Chairman of the Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers and Bhajan Lal Sharma (Chief Minister of Rajasthan).
Benefits of the Modified PKC-ERCP Link Project:
i.The Modified PKC-ERCP link project proposes to provide drinking and industrial water in 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan, Malwa, and Chambal regions of Madhya Pradesh.
- The 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan namely Jhalawar, Baran, Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Tonk, Jaipur, Dausa, Karauli, Alwar, Bharatpur and Dholpur.
ii.It will also provide irrigation to 2.8 lakh hectares (or more) in each of the two states (for a total of 5.6 lakh ha or more), as well as supplementing en route tanks.
Works to be done in the Project:
i.A Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the modified PKC-ERCP Link Project is set to be prepared; after that, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) will be finalized between Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and GoI.
ii.The MoA details the following: the scope of the work of the link Project, sharing of water, exchange of water, sharing of costs & benefits, implementation mechanism, and arrangements for management and control of water in the Chambal basin.
Journey of Merging PKC & ERCP Projects:
i.The Feasibility Report (FR) of the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link project under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) was prepared in February 2004.
ii.The Detailed Project Report (DPR) of ERCP with an estimated cost of Rs. 37,247.12 crore (at 2014 price level) was submitted by the Government of Rajasthan in November, 2017.
iii.ERCP didn’t take off as it failed to match the norms for the projects on inter-state rivers.
iv.After having various discussions on merging the PKC link project with the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP). The ‘Modified PKC-ERCP’ link project finally got approval on the 20th meeting of the Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers (SCILR) in New Delhi(Delhi) on December 2022.
- It was also declared as one of the priority river link projects in India.
v.The modified PKC-ERCP Link Project is the second project under the national perspective plan(NPP) of the interlinking of rivers (ILR) program of GoI.
- The Ken-Betwa ILR project is the first project under NPP.
About the Rivers to be linked:
i.The Chambal River flows through three different states: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. It originates from the Vindhyan ranges near Mhow in the Indore district of M.P. and it is the largest tributary of the Yamuna.
ii.The Parbati River originates from the Vindhyanchal ranges near Astha in the Sehore district of MP. It is flowing through Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
iii.The River Kalisindh is a principal tributary of the Chambal. It originates near Bagli village in the Dewas district of M.P. and joins the river Chambal in the Kota district of Rajasthan.
About Rajasthan:
Chief Minister – Bhajanlal Sharma
Governor– Kalraj Mishra
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary, Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Phulwari ki nal Sanctuary
Dances – Ghoomar Dance, Gair, Chari Dance
