The Kalpasar Project envisages building a 30 km dam across the Gulf of Khambat in India for establishing a huge fresh water reservoir for irrigation, drinking and industrial purposes. A 10 lane road link will also be set up over the dam, greatly reducing the distance between Saurashtra and South Gujarat.
On implementation of Kalpasar project the fisheries development will take place both in fresh as well as salt-water lakes. The project provides for infrastructure investment to support two large major Carps hatcheries.
The aims at the creation of a fresh water reservoir in the Gulf of Khambhat by the construction of a dam connecting the east and west bank of the Gulf. In the reservoir the runoff from Sabarmati, Mahi, Dhadar and Narmada will be stored, together with the waters from the Saurashtra rivers discharging into the Gulf of Khambhat.
Once the Gulf is closed, water levels within the reservoir can be controlled while the tidal fluctuation outside the reservoir continues and, hence, can be harnessed for the generation of tidal energy.
In addition to fresh water storage and tidal power generation, Kalpasar also aims at land reclamation, transportation improvements and fisheries development. In accordance with this project, a mega fresh water reservoir will be constructed on the upstream side of the dam by impounding the surplus waters of numerous rivers.
This project, will resolve four vital problems of the State of Gujarat which are water, electrical power, road-rail transport and development of ports.
Highlights of Dholera Kalpasar Dam
Spending began in earnest in 2004 and by 2018 INR 250 crore has been spent on various feasibility studies and surveys.
By July 2019, 25 of the 43 feasibility studies for the ecological, environmental, social and financial impact, etc were complete, 8 more were underway, remaining 10 surveys will take 3 to 5 years to complete i.e. by 2021-23.
Detailed Project Report (DPR) was intended to be completed by the end of 2018.
As of 2018, no environmental or other clearances have been obtained for the Kalpasar dam.
Meanwhile the construction of the Bhadhut barrage, which is a smaller component of the project, will commence from 2020.
More than 30,000 MCM of water from Narmada river alone flows out annually into the sea due to the lack of storage capacity and dams, thus experts have been calling for a review of Gujarat's Water Policy to expedite the Kalpasar project.
Kalpasar dam: The size of Kalpasar dam has been reduced by shifting the alignment towards north, from Kala Talav village in Bhavnagar district to Aladar village north of Port of Dahej in Bharuch district.
Kalpasar irrigation command and channels: Various canals and channels will be built in the Saurashtra to irrigate the farms from "Kalpasar dam".
