The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) is set to be a focal point as the double-engine government aims to address disputes related to the lifeline project spanning 13 districts ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. A significant meeting on ERCP is scheduled at the Ministry of Jal Shakti in New Delhi on Wednesday, chaired by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The meeting, slated for 2:30 pm, will gather key officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Subodh Agrawal, to provide a comprehensive review report on the project’s progress.
Officials from Madhya Pradesh’s Water Resources Department will also participate in the meeting to address disputes over river water between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Resolving these issues is crucial for the project’s advancement, and the meeting will specifically focus on the challenges causing delays. To declare ERCP as a central project, collaboration and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are deemed necessary.
The ERCP, an ambitious project costing initially Rs. 37,200 crores, has faced delays leading to a significant cost escalation to Rs. 70,000 crores. The Bharatiya Janata Party, as part of its election declaration letter, had pledged to complete the ERCP in collaboration with the central government. Efforts are now underway to fulfil this commitment, aiming to declare the project as central and initiate work before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The strategic move seeks to garner support from voters across the 13 districts in the next assembly elections.
