The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) aims to harness surplus water from rivers, particularly in southern Rajasthan and utilise it for drinking and irrigation purposes in the water-scarce regions of south and southeast Rajasthan. This mega project not only addresses the drinking water needs of several districts in Rajasthan but also aims to provide irrigation water to an additional 2 lakh hectares of land. Furthermore, the ERCP is designed to supply water to the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and manage flood and drought situations in the area.
The project focuses on harvesting water from rivers like Chambal and its tributaries, including Kunnu, Parvati, Kalisindh, and others. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has been advocating for national project status for the ERCP. The primary advantage of attaining national project status is that the Central Government would provide 90% of the funding for the project. Given the estimated cost of approximately Rs. 40,000 crore, a financial burden that the state government cannot bear alone, Gehlot emphasises the importance of securing national project status for the ERCP.
The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project is envisioned to cover rivers such as Chambal, Kali Sindh, and Parvati, along with 13 districts: Jhalawar, Baran, Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Tonk, Jaipur, Karauli, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dausa, and Dholpur.
Political tussle relating to ERCP
On Tuesday, Rajasthan Congress released its manifesto for assembly elections. In this, the party presented a detailed plan to systematically implement ERCP. Earlier, on 16 November, the Bhartiya Janata Party unveiled its manifesto in which the party guaranteed the completion of the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) in a time-bound manner in collaboration with the Centre.
When Congress began its election campaign, it focused mainly on the ERCP issue to target the opposition and garner more votes. It is worth noting that this project was originally introduced by the previous BJP government under the leadership of former CM Vasundhara Raje.
During election campaigns, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot criticised the Centre for allegedly neglecting the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP). Gehlot claimed that if the project had been expedited, it could have alleviated the water crisis in the region. He accused the Centre of creating obstacles for five years and highlighted that the Congress government continued the project initiated by the previous BJP administration.
In response, the BJP attributed the delay in the ERCP to the Congress government’s political manoeuvring and lack of constructive steps toward project completion. Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat accused Gehlot of politicising the issue and deemed it his failure. Shekhawat cited challenges such as the absence of a no-objection certificate from Madhya Pradesh, the Rajasthan government’s inflexibility, and Gehlot’s insistence on implementing the project against established rules. According to Shekhawat, the BJP, upon winning the elections, plans to form the government in Rajasthan and implement the ERCP as part of the “Nadi Jodo Pariyojna” (River Linking Project).
Challenges for ERCP to become a national project
For a project to be considered for funding under the National Projects scheme of the Government of India, it undergoes an appraisal process by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and acceptance by the Advisory Committee on Irrigation, Flood Control, and Multipurpose Projects of the Ministry. Following this, the State Government obtains investment clearance. The project is then reviewed by the High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) to ensure it meets the established norms for the National Project scheme, after this it may get included in the National Projects scheme.
The detailed project report (DPR) for the ERCP was submitted by the Government of Rajasthan to the CWC in 2017 for techno-economic appraisal. However, the appraisal process faced obstacles due to the project’s planning based on a 50% dependable yield, contrary to the norm of 75% dependability. As a result, the ERCP did not meet the criteria for inclusion under the National Projects scheme of the Ministry.
In the end, the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) remains a crucial initiative with the potential to address the severe water crisis in southern Rajasthan. The project’s significance is underscored by its potential to impact millions of lives, particularly in districts like Alwar, where water scarcity has become a pressing issue.
While initially, both the BJP and Congress were using the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) as a focal point to criticise each other, as the election date approaches, the intensity of this debate appears to be diminishing. The ERCP, once a central issue in Rajasthan, is getting overshadowed by a multitude of promises, mutual allegations, and counter-allegations between the parties. Despite being a significant concern for the people, the problem remains unresolved, raising questions about the likelihood of the ERCP’s completion, and whether the promises made by either party hold truth or are merely empty assurances.
EASTERN RAJASTHAN CANAL PROJECT OVERVIEW
3.5 crore people are expected to benefit
ERCP has an estimated budget of Rs 40,000
Transfer excess water from the Chambal River basin to the areas facing water scarcity
Interlink Prabati, Kalisindh and Chambal rivers and supply drinking water to 13 districts and for irrigation to an additional command area of 2 lakh hectares
Restore capacity of existing 26 major dams
