OVERVIEW OF KALPASAR PROJECT
In the Gulf of Khambhat, embraced by the Gujarat main land and the eastern coast of Saurashtra peninsula, yearly a volume of over 30,000 Mm3 of waters flows away before it can be used to mitigate the severe shortage of drinking and irrigation water in Gujarat, especially in the Saurashtra peninsula.
The Gulf of Khambhat Project, or KALPASAR, 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. The stored waters are to be used for irrigation, water supply and industrial requirements in the Saurashtra region.
KALPASAR is considered the evident solution for solving on the short as well as on the long term the threatening drinking and irrigation water problems in Saurashtra.
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......More
