The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Gujarat’s ambitious Gulf of Khambhat (Kalpasar) Project is at an advanced stage of finalisation, the Centre informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Replying to a question in the House, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said the project, as informed by the Government of Gujarat, envisages the creation of one of the world’s largest coastal freshwater reservoirs through the construction of a dam across the Gulf of Khambhat.
The project is expected to significantly enhance freshwater availability and help address water scarcity in the Saurashtra region by providing a reliable source of water for irrigation and other identified uses.
Besides water storage, the project proposes a highway-cum-rail corridor over the dam. According to the present project layout, the corridor is expected to reduce the travel distance between Bhavnagar and Surat by around 179 kilometres, bringing it down from about 356 km through the existing land route to approximately 177 km via the proposed dyke corridor. The project is expected to improve regional connectivity and reduce travel time.
The Centre said the ongoing Indo-Dutch technical cooperation is expected to strengthen the DPR by incorporating international best practices and advanced expertise in coastal engineering, hydraulic modelling, salinity management, climate resilience and water resource management.
According to the government, the collaboration is intended to improve the technical robustness of the project and support informed decision-making during its implementation.
The project also envisages the development of around 2,470 MW of hybrid renewable energy capacity on reclaimed land that remains submerged during high tide. The renewable energy generated is proposed to be used, among other purposes, for pumping freshwater to meet irrigation requirements in the coastal regions of Saurashtra.
The Centre further informed that the DPR incorporates appropriate engineering measures, hydraulic studies and salinity management strategies to address the issue of salinity ingress.
The information was provided by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
