Kota: Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Sunday inspected the Nonaera dam being constructed under the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) in Digod area of Kota district. He said the project, which is expected to be completed by June 2024, will provide drinking water and irrigation facilities to 13 districts of the state.
Sharma, who was accompanied by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, reviewed the progress of the project and took a presentation from the officials. He said the project, which has a revised cost of Rs 1,316.32 crore, has achieved 85 per cent physical completion. He said the dam, which has a water storage capacity of 226 million cubic metres, will reserve 54 million cubic metres for drinking water purposes.
The chief minister said the ERCP, which is a joint venture of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments, will benefit the four districts of Hadoti region – Baran, Bundi, Kota and Jhalawar – as well as Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Tonk, Jaipur, Dausa, Karauli, Alwar, Bharatpur and Dholpur. He said the project will also help in recharging the groundwater level and improving the ecology of the region.
Sharma said the BJP government is committed to providing water security to the people of Rajasthan and fulfilling the vision of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had launched the ERCP in 2003. He said the project will also generate employment opportunities and boost the agricultural and industrial growth of the state.
Shekhawat, who hails from Rajasthan, praised the chief minister for his proactive approach and said the Centre will extend all possible support to the state for the timely completion of the project. He said the ERCP is a model of cooperative federalism and a testament to the good governance of the BJP.
The chief minister and the union minister also conducted an aerial survey of the Rana Pratap Dam and the Jawahar Sagar Dam on the Chambal river, which are part of the ERCP. They also interacted with the local people and the farmers and assured them of the benefits of the project.
Education Minister Madan Dilawar, Energy Minister Heeralal Nagar, Chief Secretary Shikhar Agarwal, Additional Chief Secretary of Water Resources Department Abhay Kumar and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.
