Global InformationKalpasar Project information
 | This article needs to be updated. (June 2021) |
| Kalpasar Dam | |
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  Location of Kalpasar Dam in India | |
| Coordinates | 21°27′21″N 72°24′57″E / 21.45583°N 72.41583°E |
| Website Official website  | |
The Kalpasar Project or the Gulf of Khambhat Development Project envisages building a 30 km dam across the Gulf of Khambat in India for establishing a huge fresh water coastal reservoir for irrigation, drinking and industrial purposes.[1][2] The project with 30 km sea dam will have the capacity to store 10 billion cubic meters fresh water, equating to 25% of Gujarat’s average annual rainwater flow, from the rivers like Narmada, Mahi, Dhadhar, Sabarmati, Limbdi-Bhagovo, and two other minor rivers.[3] A 10 lane road link will also be set up over the dam, greatly reducing the distance between Saurashtra and South Gujarat.[4] The project, which will create world's largest freshwater lake in marine environment, will cost INR90,000 crore or US$12.75 billion (2015-16 estimates with 8% annual inflation) excluding the cost of tidal power plant.[5] Project entails construction of the main "Kalpasar dam" across Gulf of Khambat and another Bhadbhut barrage on Narmada river, as well as a canal connecting the two.[6]
Spending began in earnest in 2004,[7] and by 2018 INR 250 crore has been spent on various feasibility studies and surveys.[5] By July 2019, 25 of the 43 feasibility studies for the ecological, environmental, social and financial impact, etc were complete; 8 more were underway; remaining 10 surveys will take 3 to 5 years to complete i.e. by 2021-23.[5] Detailed Project Report (DPR) was intended to be completed by the end of 2018.[8][3] The project, if found feasible, will take at least 20 years (by 2035-38) to complete including 3 to 5 years pre-construction feasibility studies which are presently underway, and further 12 to 15 years of construction thereafter which has not commenced yet.[5] As of 2018, no environmental or other clearances have been obtained for the Kalpasar dam.[3] Meanwhile the construction of the Bhadbhut barrage, which is a smaller component of the project, commenced in 2020.[9]
More than 30,000 MCM of water from Narmada river alone flows out annually into the sea due to the lack of storage capacity and dams, thus experts have been calling for a review of Gujarat's Water Policy to expedite the Kalpasar project.[10] Few more similar projects are on anvil to harness the surplus flood waters of Indian rivers.[11]
- ^ "Efficacy of coastal reservoirs to address India's water shortage by impounding excess river flood waters near the coast (page 49)". Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ^ "International Association for Coastal Reservoir Research". Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ^ a b c "Gujarat water woes: Kalpsar project DPR likely by year end". Times of India. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "South Korea to Build Sea Wall in India". 18 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Kalpasar to take at least 20 years, if found feasible". Times of India. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
short1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Shah, Jumana (21 February 2018). "Gujarat government unclear on Kalpasar Dam project after spending crores". India News. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- ^ "Eight Kalpsar feasibility studies still on: Gujarat government". Times of India. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
update1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Narmada dam capacity flowed into the sea". Times of India. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ Sasidhar, Nallapaneni (May 2023). "Multipurpose Freshwater Coastal Reservoirs and Their Role in Mitigating Climate Change" (PDF). Indian Journal of Environment Engineering. 3 (1): 30–45. doi:10.54105/ijee.A1842.053123. ISSN 2582-9289. S2CID 258753397. Retrieved 27 December 2023.