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{{Short description|Dam in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{update|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Kalpasar Dam
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[[File:Map Gujarat state and districts.png|thumb|right|320px|The [[Gulf of Khambat]] is at the right-lower-center of the map of Gujarat on the [[Arabian Sea]].]]

The '''Kalpasar Project''' or the '''Gulf of Khambhat Development 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Efficacy of coastal reservoirs to address India's water shortage by impounding excess river flood waters near the coast (page 49)|url=http://ojs.udspub.com/index.php/jsupp/issue/viewIssue/51/4|accessdate=9 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726234122/http://ojs.udspub.com/index.php/jsupp/issue/viewIssue/51/4|archive-date=26 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=International Association for Coastal Reservoir Research|url=http://iacrr.org/publications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726234508/http://iacrr.org/publications|url-status=usurped|archive-date=26 July 2018|accessdate=9 July 2018}}</ref> The project with 30 km sea dam will have the capacity to store 10 billion cubic meters fresh water, equating to 25% of Gujarat’s average annual rainwater flow, from the rivers like [[Narmada River|Narmada]], [[Mahi River|Mahi]], [[Dhadhar River|Dhadhar]], [[Sabarmati River|Sabarmati]], [[Bhogavo River|Limbdi-Bhagovo]], and two other minor rivers.<ref name="t1"/> A 10 lane road link will also be set up over the dam, greatly reducing the distance between [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] and [[South Gujarat]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/english/news/industry/14131-indian-water-project-south-korea-build-sea-wall-india|title=South Korea to Build Sea Wall in India|date=18 March 2016|accessdate=23 March 2016|archive-date=25 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325090734/http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/english/news/industry/14131-indian-water-project-south-korea-build-sea-wall-india|url-status=dead}}</ref> The project, which will create world's largest freshwater lake in marine environment, will cost INR90,000 crore or US$12.75 billion (2015-16 estimates with 8% annual inflation) excluding the cost of [[Tidal power|tidal power plant]].<ref name="t2"/> Project entails construction of the main ''"Kalpasar dam"'' across Gulf of Khambat and another [[Bhadbhut barrage]] on [[Narmada River|Narmada river]], as well as a canal connecting the two.<ref name=short1/>

Spending began in earnest in 2004,<ref name="in180221">{{cite news |last1=Shah |first1=Jumana |title=Gujarat government unclear on Kalpasar Dam project after spending crores |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/despite-spending-rs-30-71-cr-gujarat-govt-unclear-on-viability-of-kalpasar-dam-project-1174787-2018-02-21 |accessdate=26 December 2018 |publisher=India News |date=21 February 2018}}</ref> and by 2018 INR 250 crore has been spent on various feasibility studies and surveys.<ref name="t2"/> 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.<ref name="t2"/> Detailed Project Report (DPR) was intended to be completed by the end of 2018.<ref name="t3">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/8-kalpsar-feasibility-studies-still-on-govt/articleshow/70198801.cms|title=Eight Kalpsar feasibility studies still on: Gujarat government
|date=12 July 2019|newspaper=Times of India|language=en-US|access-date=27 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="t1">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarat-water-woes-kalpsar-project-dpr-likely-by-year-end/articleshow/62872660.cms|title=Gujarat water woes: Kalpsar project DPR likely by year end|date=11 February 2018|newspaper=Times of India|language=en-US|access-date=27 December 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref name="t2">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/kalpasar-to-take-at-least-20-years-if-found-feasible/articleshow/56633405.cms|title=Kalpasar to take at least 20 years, if found feasible|date=18 January 2017|newspaper=Times of India|language=en-US|access-date=27 December 2019}}</ref> As of 2018, no environmental or other clearances have been obtained for the Kalpasar dam.<ref name="t1"/> Meanwhile the construction of the [[Bhadbhut barrage]], which is a smaller component of the project, commenced in 2020.<ref name=update1/>

More than 30,000 MCM of water from [[Narmada River|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.<ref name="t4">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/water-equal-to-four-times-narmada-dam-capacity-flowed-into-the-sea/articleshow/71414168.cms|title=Narmada dam capacity flowed into the sea|date=3 October 2019|newspaper=Times of India|language=en-US|access-date=27 December 2019}}</ref> Few more similar projects are on anvil to harness the surplus flood waters of Indian rivers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sasidhar |first=Nallapaneni |date=May 2023 |title=Multipurpose Freshwater Coastal Reservoirs and Their Role in Mitigating Climate Change |url=https://www.ijee.latticescipub.com/wp-content/uploads/papers/v3i1/A1842053123.pdf |access-date=2023-12-27 |journal=Indian Journal of Environment Engineering |issn=2582-9289 |volume=3 |issue=1|pages=30–45 |doi=10.54105/ijee.A1842.053123 |s2cid=258753397 }}</ref>

==Background==

=== Etymology ===

''Kalpasar'' means a lake that fulfills all the wishes (कल्प+सर). The construction of the word is similar to कल्पवृक्ष, the Hindu mythological ‘[[Kalpavriksha|Kalpa Vriksha]]’ ([[Devanagari]]: कल्पवृक्ष) – wishing tree.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://newser.in/good-news/kalpsar-project-worlds-largest-lake/|title=Kalpsar Project : World's Largest Lake|date=18 November 2016|newspaper=Newser|language=en-US|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>

===History===

The Gulf of Khambhat was identified as a promising site for tidal power generation by UNDP Expert, Mr. Eric Wilson in the year 1975. Successive governments were then presented in details the possibility of a project, aptly named Kalpasar Project by its visionary Dr. Anil Kane, who conceptualised it in 80s as a feasible project. In 1988–89 a reconnaissance report was prepared for the dam across the Gulf of Khambhat. The report concluded that, assuming sound foundation conditions, the closure of the Gulf was technically feasible.<ref name=recon1>{{cite web|url=http://www.projectsmonitor.com/daily-wire/work-on-gujarats-kalpasar-project-likely-to-commence-by-next-year/|title=Work on Gujarats Kalpasar project likely to commence by next year|date=27 May 2013 |accessdate=29 May 2014}}</ref> Studies are still going on and the length of the proposed dam is reduced and the tidal power component is dropped. The cost of project is estimated at {{Indian Rupee}} 85,000 crore as of 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/Online/TOR/04_Jul_2022_10125319044276867Annexure-Pre-feasibilityReport(PFR).pdf|title=Pre-Feasibility: Report Kalpasar Project|date= June 2022|access-date=11 December 2022}}</ref> It is reported that the project may take 20 years to complete if found feasible and approved.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/kalpasar-to-take-at-least-20-years-if-found-feasible/articleshow/56633405.cms|title=Kalpasar to take at least 20 years, if found feasible – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref>

== Project details ==

=== Objectives ===

Kalpasar aims at the creation of a [[fresh water]] coastal 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 River|Sabarmati]], [[Mahi River|Mahi]], [[Dhadhar River|Dhadar]] and [[Narmada River|Narmada]] will be stored, together with the waters from the [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] rivers discharging into the [[Gulf of Khambhat]]. The stored waters are to be used for irrigation, domestic and industrial water requirements in the [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra region]].<ref>{{cite web |title=India is not running out of water, water is running out of India|date=26 March 2017 |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/opinion/op-ed/260317/by-invitation-india-is-not-running-out-of-water-water-is-running-out-of-india.html|accessdate=9 July 2018}}</ref> 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 (region)|Saurashtra]].

Once the Gulf is closed, water levels within the reservoir can be controlled while the [[Tide|tidal]] fluctuation outside the reservoir continues and, hence, can be harnessed for the generation of [[Tidal power|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 [[Gujarat|State of Gujarat]] which are water, electrical power, road-rail transport and development of ports.<ref name=":0" />

===Scope and cost===

====Abandoned original plan and scope====
[[File:Kalpsar3.jpg|thumb|Map of old proposal scope with larger 64 km long Kalpasar dam and tidal power plant, no longer valid.]]

The original plan envisaged a larger dam along with a tidal power plant.

A [[Government of Gujarat|state government]] release said the Rs 55,000 crore (US$11.7 billion) project, to be completed by 2020, will have a vast fresh water reservoir with gross storage of 16,791 million cubic metres of water, 64 km long dam across the Gulf of Khambhat connecting [[Ghogha]] in [[Bhavnagar]] with [[Hansot]] in [[Bharuch District]], reducing the distance between the two by 225 km. It will have tidal power generation house with an installed capacity of 5,880 [[megawatt|MW]]. Another estimate was given by the Government in October 2010 which stated the proposed dam to be built just north of [[Bhavnagar]] in the west to Alandar in [[Dahej]] on the east.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gujarat-plans-first-over-the-sea-dam/articleshow/6811046.cms|title=Gujarat plans first over the sea dam|newspaper=The Times of India |date=25 October 2010 |accessdate=29 May 2014}}</ref> In 2017, the revised project plan reduced the size of lake with only 30 km sea dam instead of original plan of 64 km long dam.<ref name=short1/>

==== Revised and reduced current scope ====
[[File:Kalpasar Dyke Project.jpg|thumb|Map of the new and revised Proposed Kalpasar Project ]]
In 2017 the scope and size of the dam project was reduced, instead of a longer Kalpasar dam across the Gulf of, it will now have a shorter Kalpasar dam across the Gulf of Khambat along with another [[Bhadbhut barrage]] on Narmada river and a canal connecting these two.<ref name=short1/> The Tidal power project has been dropped from the scope,<ref name=short1/> which could be taken up as a separate 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]].<ref name=short1/>

* '''[[Bhadbhut barrage]]''': Since the alignment of ''"Kalpasar dam"'' has been moved further north, the [[Narmada River]] will not flow directly into the Kalpasar dam. Instead Narmada's water will be diverted to Kalpasar dam by constructing another 1.7 km long [[causeway]]-cum-[[weir]] barrage of 600 million cubic meter storage capacity 25 km upstream of Narmada's mouth before it enters the sea near [[Bhadbhut]] in Bharuch district.<ref name=short1/><ref name=short2>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/state-protests-waterway-bodys-plan-to-repurpose-badhbhut-barrage/articleshow/67934902.cms Gujarat protests waterway body’s plan to repurpose Badhbhut barrage], Times of India, 11 February 2019.</ref><ref name=short3>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/bhadbhut-barrage-only-solution-to-salinity-ingress-in-narmada/articleshow/65494235.cms ‘Bhadbhut barrage only solution to salinity ingress in Narmada], Times of India, 22 April 2018.</ref> This barrage help prevent [[saltwater intrusion]] in Narmada River.<ref name=short3/>

* '''[[Bhadbhut-Kalpasar canal]]''': To transfer the water of narmada river from ''"Bhadbhut barrage"'' to ''"Kalpasar dam"'', a new 30 km long canal with one lac [[cusec]]s water carrying capacity will be constructed from ''"Bhadbhut barrage"'' to ''"Kalpasar dam"''.<ref name=short1/>

* '''Kalpasar irrigation command and channels''': Various canals and channels will be built in the [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] to irrigate the farms from ''"Kalpasar dam"''.<ref name=short1>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/kalpasar-to-take-at-least-20-years-if-found-feasible/articleshow/56633405.cms|title=Kalpasar to take at least 20 years, if found feasible|newspaper=The Times of India |date=18 January 2017 |accessdate=29 June 2017}}</ref><ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kala+Talav,+Gujarat,+India/Aladar,+Gujarat,+India/Bhadbhut,+Gujarat,+India/@22.1004279,71.9807118,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m20!4m19!1m5!1m1!1s0x395f4f8974ca8609:0x95f25fb0e54071e1!2m2!1d72.1401322!2d21.8469266!1m5!1m1!1s0x395f79ae40147d2f:0xbac4e33b2fbe1781!2m2!1d72.6683333!2d21.8342294!1m5!1m1!1s0x3be029b65fba9253:0xe08f81c063f2e33a!2m2!1d72.8441629!2d21.6843454!3e0 Current/new alignment map]</ref>

=== Issues ===
Narmada river one of the [[List of National Waterways in India|111 waterways in India]] which facilitate the [[water transport in India]], the currently design of Bhadhut barrage by the [[Government of Gujarat|Gujarat government]] would allow only lower capacity class III ships where as the union water transport ministry notification envisages higher capacity class IV ships, consequently union government has asked [[Government of Gujarat|Gujarat government]] to upgrade the design of the barrage and shipping locks to facilitate the navigation of larger class IV ships.<ref name=short2/>

There are other ecological and environmental issues to be addressed as part of various feasibility studies being undertaken.

=== Current status ===
; Planning stage
* '''1975-2004 Endless wait due to poor planning and slow pace of implementation:''' Conceived in 1975, reconnaissance in 1988–89 and with construction expected to commence in 2012, is a much delayed project.<ref name=recon1/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sandrp.in/dams/Why_Modis_54000_crore_legacy_project_KALPSAR_is_doomed_Nov_2010.pdf|title=Modi's hankering for illusory legacy of mega water project|accessdate=29 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821011137/http://sandrp.in/dams/Why_Modis_54000_crore_legacy_project_KALPSAR_is_doomed_Nov_2010.pdf|archive-date=21 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

; Feasibility surveys stage
* '''2004 - spending began on feasibility surveys:''', but work was delayed amid questions about feasibility.<ref name="in180221"/>

* '''2014-17 - ongoing surveys:''' The entire [[Gulf of Khambhat]] area was undergoing [[Bathymetry|Bathymetric]] and Land Survey for determining sea bed levels under the supervision of [[National Institute of Ocean Technology]] (NIOT, [[Chennai]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kalpasarproject.com|title=Kalpasar Project|accessdate=29 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223092926/http://www.kalpasarproject.com/|archive-date=23 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://newser.in/good-news/kalpsar-project-worlds-largest-lake/|title=Kalpasar Project (Yojana) : World's Largest Lake|date=18 November 2016 |accessdate=29 June 2017}}</ref>

* '''2019 - 25 surveys out of 43 completed, 8 underway, 10 yet to commence:''' 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid%3A3ab48021-40fb-47c0-b9d4-995d868ffc3a|title=Hydraulic and morphological impact of a closure dam in the Gulf of Khambhat|accessdate=15 December 2022}}</ref><ref name="t2"/> Detailed Project Report (DPR) was intended to be completed by the end of 2018.<ref name="t3"/>

; Construction stage
* Tenders for the ''"Bhadhut barrage"'' will be issued by December 2019 and construction will commence in 2020.<ref name=update1>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/cm-lays-foundation-for-100mld-desalination-plant-in-dahej/articleshow/72312824.cms Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani lays foundation for 100MLD desalination plant in Dahej], Times of India, 1 December 2019.</ref> The construction of main ''"Kalpasar dam"'' Will take 12 to 15 years, once the construction commences only after 2021-23.

== Other water projects in the area ==
In December 2019, Chief Minister [[Vijay Rupani|Vijaybhai Rupani]] laid the foundation stone for the 100 MLD water desalination plant in Dahej - which will be operational by 2022 - and 8 more such desalination plants will be built in [[Gujarat]] to meet the water needs of the state's industry.<ref name=update1/>

==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|India|Water|Renewable energy}}}}
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* Similar projects
** [[Polavaram Project]], under construction in India
** [[Saemangeum Seawall]], functional in Korea
** [[Indian Rivers Inter-link]]

* Lists
** [[Dissolved load|List of rivers by dissolved load]]
** [[List of drainage basins by area]]
** [[List of rivers of India by discharge]]
** [[List of rivers by discharge]]
** [[List of dams and reservoirs in India]]

* Water management in India
** [[Environment of India]]
** [[Groundwater#India|Ground water in India]]
** [[Interstate River Water Disputes Act]]
** [[Irrigation in India]]
** [[National Water Policy]]
** [[Water scarcity in India]]
** [[Water supply and sanitation in India]]
** [[Water pollution in India]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
; Citations
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official website}}

{{-}}
{{Hydrography of Gujarat}}
{{Power stations of Gujarat}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Water supply infrastructure in India]]
[[Category:Power stations in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Tidal power stations in India]]
[[Category:Proposed tidal power stations]]
[[Category:Gulf of Khambhat]]
[[Category:Dams in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Proposed dams in India]]
[[Category:Proposed renewable energy power stations in India]]

Kalpasar Project - Revision history

DwainKilgore21 at 23:12, 22 February 2026