EASTERN RAJASTHAN CANAL PROJECT (ERCP)

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Context:

Rajasthan CM discussed Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project with Union Minister CR Paatil.

 Details

The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP)  was conceptualised by the Rajasthan government in November 2017.

It envisages intra-basin transfer of water within the Chambal Basin by utilising surplus monsoon water available in Kalisindh, Parvati, Mej and Chakan sub-basins and diverting it into water deficit sub-basins of Banas, Gambhiri, Banganga and Parbati to provide drinking and industrial water to 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan.

The project also envisages irrigation in about 2.82 lakh hectare area. The project will also supply water to the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and take care of the flood and drought situation in the area.

The Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan governments in July 2024 signed an agreement for the implementation of the Rs 72,000 crore Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal river linking project.

Chambal river

The Chambal River is a tributary of the Yamuna River in central India, and thus forms part of the greater Gangetic drainage system.

The 960 kilometres long River originates from the Singar Chouri peak on the northern slopes of the Vindhyan escarpment of Mhow in Indore District, Madhya Pradesh, at an elevation of about 843 metres and flows northwards through a gorge up wards of Kota in Rajasthan, where the Gandhisagar dam has been constructed.

From Kota, it traverses down to Bundi, Sawai Madhopur and Dholpur, and finally joins the Yamuna.

 The Chambal is famous for its badland topography called the Chambal ravines.

The tributaries of the Chambal include KShipra, Choti Kalisindh, Sivanna, Retam, Ansar, Kalisindh, Banas, Parbati, Seep, Kuwari, Kuno, Alnia, Mej, Chakan, Parwati, Chamla, Gambhir, Lakhunder, Khan, Bangeri, Kedel and Teelar.

National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, spans across the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, covering an area of over 5,400 sq km. The sanctuary was established with the main objective of the conservation of Critically Endangered Gharial.

Must read articles:

Chambal River: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/chambal-river

Modified PKC-ERCP Project: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/modified-pkc-ercp-project#:~:text=Benefits%20of%20the%20modified%20project,5.6%20lakh%20ha%20or%20more.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1942156