JAIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (PKC-ERCP) in Jaipur. The ceremony for the project also marked the completion of one year of the Bhajanlal Sharma-led BJP government in Rajasthan.
During the event, the agreement between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for the ambitious project was unveiled.
The Central government has designated the ERCP as a “national project” and committed to bear 90% of the total project cost. The remaining 10% will be shared equally by the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments.
As part of the foundation-laying ceremony, Modi poured water from replicas of the Parvati, Kalisindh, and Chambal rivers into a pot, named the “Ram Setu Kalash.” He announced that Rajasthan would benefit significantly from the agreement, with tap water expecting to reach 100% of the state’s households. He noted that the water ministry is overseeing the initiative.
Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 24 infrastructure projects worth over Rs 46,300 crore, spanning sectors such as electricity, water, roads, and railways.
In his address, Modi attacked the previous Congress government in the state and held it responsible for delays in the ERCP project. “Instead of resolving the issue, Congress kept fueling water disputes between states. People will certainly question Congress about why they failed to finalise the ERCP agreement,” he said.
The PM praised former CM Vasundhara Raje, acknowledging her role in initiating the ERCP during her second term and highlighted her efforts in drafting the framework for connecting the Parvati, Kalisindh, and Chambal rivers.
Recalling Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Jaswant Singh, Modi said, “When I was chief minister, both leaders came to Gujarat to discuss providing Narmada water to Rajasthan. Because of that initiative, districts like Churu, Jhunjhunu, Hanumangarh, Jalore, and Barmer are now benefitting from Narmada water.”
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav stated that the 20-year-old water dispute between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh has been resolved. He described the ERCP as a “boon” for both states. Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma echoed this sentiment, terming the event “historic.”
The Congress, however, dismissed the event as a “political stunt”. The Congress claims that due to political animosity, the BJP kept the ERCP on hold in five years of the Ashok Gehlot government. Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasara accused the Central government of misleading the people on the ERCP. Gehlot also alleged that the BJP had compromised Rajasthan’s interests.
The PKC-ERCP is directly linked to a population of 3.45 crore across 21 districts in Rajasthan. These districts include Jaipur, Kota, Jhalawar, Baran, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Tonk, Dausa, Karauli, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Gangapur City, Beawar, Kekri, Dudu, Kotputli-Behror, Khairthal-Tijara, Deeg, and Jaipur Rural.
The project aims to alleviate water crisis in eastern Rajasthan, providing drinking water to households and irrigation water to farmers, thereby benefiting both urban and rural populations in the region.