Lok Sabha Question No. 1980 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Hanuman Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1980

## ANSWERED ON 14.12.2023

## EASTERN RAJASTHAN CANAL PROJECT

## †1980. SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to declare the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) as a national project, if so, the details thereof; and

(b) the details of the efforts made by the Government so far in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) Though  some requests have been received, but Government of Rajasthan has so far not submitted any formal proposal for inclusion of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) under the National Project scheme being serviced by this Ministry.

Further, for inclusion of a project for funding under National Projects scheme of Government of India, it is to be first  appraised  by  Central  Water  Commission  (CWC),  and accepted  by  the Advisory  Committee  on  Irrigation,  Flood Control  and  Multipurpose  projects  of  this  Ministry.  Thereafter,  investment  clearance  is  to  be  obtained  by  the  State Government. Subsequently, the project is to be considered by the High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) to examine if the project meets the laid down norms for the National Project scheme. On being recommended by HPSC, and as per availability of funds etc., Government of India may approve inclusion of a project under the National Project scheme.

Detailed project report (DPR) of Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) was submitted by Govt. of Rajasthan in November, 2017 for techno-economic appraisal to CWC. However, appraisal of the project could not move further as the project was planned on 50% dependable yield against the established norm of 75% dependability.

(b) With a view to optimize the utilization of water of the Chambal river system, in November, 2019 the Task Force for  Interlinking of Rivers decided to explore the integration of ERCP with Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link project of National Perspective Plan. Based on deliberations with both the States of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, a proposal of Modified  Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal  (modified  PKC)  link,  was  prepared.  The  proposed  project  targets  to  provide drinking and industrial water in 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan, apart from Malwa and Chambal regions of Madhya Pradesh. It also envisages providing irrigation in atleast 2.8 lakh hectare in both the States, including supplementation of en-route tanks in the two States.

In December, 2022, the Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers has, approved the proposal of considering the  modified  Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal  (PKC)  link  project  integrated  with  ERCP  as  a  part  of  National  Perspective Plan, and declared the phase-I of the project as a priority interlinking project. Thereafter, in January, 2023, a draft PreFeasibility Report of Modified PKC link project and a draft MoU for preparing the DPR of the link project has been forwarded to both the States and CWC. Further, based on consensus building meetings with both the States, a draft MoU on  broad  planning  of  the  link  project  and  preparation  of  its  DPR,  has  been  finalized  in  the  joint  meeting  held  in September, 2023.