Kalpasar Tender

ScopeThe Kalpasar Project envisages building a 30 km dam across the Gulf of Khambat in India for establishing a huge fresh water coastal reservoir for irrigation drinking and industrial purposes.The project with 30 km sea dam will have the capacity to store 10000 million cubic meters fresh water equating to 25 of Gujarats average annual rainwater flow from the rivers of Saurashtra region namely Narmada Mahi Dhadhar Sabarmati Limbdi-Bhagovo and two other minor rivers. A 10 lane road link will also be set up over the dam greatly reducing the distance between Saurashtra and South Gujarat.The project which will create worlds largest freshwater lake in marine environment will cost INR90000 crore or US12.75 billion 2015-16 estimates with 8 annual inflation excluding the cost of tidal power plant.Project entails construction of the main Kalpasar dam across Gulf of Khambat and another Bhadbhut barrage on Narmada river as well as a canal connecting the two.Spending began in earnest in 2004and 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.The project if found feasible will take at least 20 years by 2035-38 to complete including 3 to 5 years pre-construction feasibility studies which are presently underway and further 12 to 15 years of construction thereafter which has not commenced yet. 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 30000 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 Gujarats Water Policy to expedite the Kalpasar project