NEW DELHI: Union Jalshakti minister CR Patil on Sunday announced the commencement of Rs 40,000 crore worth project by PM Narendra Modi to link 11 rivers in Rajasthan to transform it into a water surplus state.
Speaking at the inauguration of Suchi Semicon’s semiconductor plant, Patil urged corporates to prioritise water harvesting initiatives to tackle potential water crises in the future. The project is expected to improve the prevailing water crisis in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The project will serve various purposes, such as, drinking water supply, irrigation and to meet industrial water demands.
“Rajasthan faces severe water crisis. The project that Modi Saheb is going to dedicate there on December 17 will link 11 rivers. This project, worth about Rs 40,000 crore, will be announced by Modi Saheb. After this, Rajasthan will have maximum water,” Patil said.
He also noted that while people have collected enough wealth to support seven generations, it is equally crucial to conserve water for the well-being of those future generations.
In January 2024, the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ministry of Jal Shakti to develop detailed project reports (DPRs) and initiate planning for the Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (MPKC) link project, integrated with the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP).
The MPKC link project, inter alia, involves major rivers, viz; Chambal and its tributaries Parbati, Kalisindh, Kuno, Banas, Banganga, Ruparail, Gambhiri, and Mej.
As per information shared in Parliament, the project aims to supply water to 21 newly formed districts in Rajasthan, including Jhalawar, Kota, Bundi, Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, Dausa, Karauli, Bharatpur, and Alwar, among others, as well as districts in Madhya Pradesh such as Guna, Shivpuri, Sheopur, Sehore, Shajapur, Rajgarh, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Morena, Ratlam, and Gwalior.
