It is another feather in the cap for Government of India in water management sector in the country, especially for the interlinking of rivers (ILR) program and also a momentous occasion for the people of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (MP), as an MoU was signed by both these states with Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), Govt. of India (GoI) today at New Delhi for implementation of the “Modified PKC-ERCP” (integration of original PKC with Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project of Rajasthan), which is the second project under the national perspective plan of interlinking of rivers (ILR) program of Government of India.

The MoU was signed today on 28.01.2024 by Dr. Rajesh Kumar Rajora, ACS, WRD, Govt. of MP, Sh. Abhay Kumar, ACS, WRD, Govt. of Rajasthan and Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, DoWR,RD&GR, MoJS, GoI on broad planning of the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link duly integrated with Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) and preparation of its DPR. The Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Sh. Mohan Yadav, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and Sh. Bhajan Lal Sharma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan graced the occasion. Sh. Shriram Vedire, Chairman of the Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers and other officials of MoJS and states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan were present on the occasion.

Led by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, intense consensus building exercise was done by the Jal Shakti ministry during the past few years to build a consensus amongst both the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to implement this project. Achievement of consensus amongst both the states is a demonstration of inter-state cooperation under the able leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, thus paving the way for the joint development and inter-basin water transfers in Chambal basin on the lines of Ken-Betwa Link Project. This is a success of cooperative federalism in the country.

The Feasibility Report (FR) of Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link project under National Perspective Plan (NPP) was prepared and circulated to the concerned State Governments in February-2004. In the year 2019, Rajasthan came up with the proposal of ERCP. With a view to utilize the water resources optimally, the integration of the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link of NPP with Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) was discussed in 11^th and 12^th meetings of the Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers (TFILR) in year 2019. Thereafter, the issue of integration of ERCP with PKC link has been deliberated regularly with states at various platforms.Looking at the importance and utility of the Modified PKC link project, Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers (SCILR), in its 20^th meeting held on 13.12.2022 in New Delhi has approved the “Modified PKC-ERCP” link as the part of the National Perspective Plan of Interlinking of rivers in the country and also declared it as one of the priority link projects in the country.

This link project proposes to provide drinking and industrial water in 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan, Malwa and Chambal regions of Madhya Pradesh apart from providing irrigation in 2.8 lakh ha. area (or more) each in both the states (total of 5.6 lakh ha or more) including supplementation of enroute tanks in the states. The Modified PKC link project will help in utilizing the available water resources of Chambal basin optimally and economically. The various components of Modified PKC link including areas of benefit shall be firmed up at DPR stage in consultation with both the states.

The preparation of DPR of this Modified PKC-ERCP link is already in progress. Based on the outcome of DPR, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) would be finalized amongst the States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Union Government, covering the scope of the work of the link Project, sharing of water, exchange of water,  sharing of costs & benefits, implementation mechanism and arrangements for  management and control of water in Chambal basin etc. to be signed by Hon’ble Chief Ministers of both the States and Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti for the implementation of this link. The Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, requested both the states to finalize the DPR of various components by respective states as early as possible so as to initiate the implementation of link project at the earliest. 

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