Kalpasar Project: Socio-Economic Impact and Technical Progress
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Governance
Why in news
The Kalpasar Project, a major water resource initiative by the Gujarat government, is in the final stages of its Detailed Project Report (DPR). The project aims to create one of the world's largest coastal freshwater reservoirs and includes a highway-cum-rail corridor, significantly reducing travel distance between Bhavnagar and Surat. India-Netherlands technical collaboration is strengthening the DPR in areas like coastal engineering and salinity management.
Background
The Kalpasar Project, also known as the Gulf of Khambhat Project, is a proposed dam across the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat. It has been under consideration for decades to address water scarcity in the Saurashtra region. The project also envisions a hybrid renewable energy capacity of about 2,470 MW on submerged land during high tide.
Key facts
The Kalpasar Project proposes a dam across the Gulf of Khambhat to create one of the world's largest coastal freshwater reservoirs.
It aims to significantly increase freshwater availability and reduce water scarcity in the Saurashtra region for irrigation and other uses.
The project includes a highway-cum-rail corridor over the dam, reducing travel distance between Bhavnagar and Surat from about 356 km to 177 km (saving ~179 km).
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is in its final stages and is being strengthened through India-Netherlands technical collaboration.
The collaboration focuses on coastal engineering, hydraulic modeling, salinity management, climate adaptation, and water management.
The project plans to develop about 2,470 MW of hybrid renewable energy capacity on land that is currently submerged during high tide.
The renewable energy will be used to pump freshwater for irrigation in coastal areas of Saurashtra.
The DPR includes engineering measures, hydraulic studies, and salinity management strategies to address salinity ingress.
Prelims pointers
- Kalpasar Project: also known as Gulf of Khambhat Project
- Location: Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat
- Purpose: freshwater reservoir, irrigation, connectivity, renewable energy
- Highway-cum-rail corridor: Bhavnagar to Surat distance reduction from 356 km to 177 km
- Hybrid renewable energy capacity: ~2,470 MW
- India-Netherlands technical collaboration
- Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti
- State: Gujarat
- DPR: Detailed Project Report
Mains angles
- GS1 Geography: Coastal reservoirs and water resource management in water-scarce regions like Saurashtra.
- GS2 Governance: Inter-state and international cooperation (India-Netherlands) in infrastructure projects.
- GS3 Infrastructure: Mega projects combining water, transport, and energy; cost-benefit analysis and environmental impact.
- GS3 Environment: Salinity ingress management, climate adaptation, and renewable energy integration.
- GS3 Economy: Socio-economic impact of improved connectivity and irrigation on regional development.