Kalpasar feasibility study to be completed by end of 2013

The techno-economic feasibility study undertaken for the Rs 50,000 crore Kalpasar project of Gujarat government is likely to be completed by December 2013, after which further work on the ambitious project to create world’s largest fresh water reservoir in sea would commence.

This information was given to the state assembly by minister of water resources Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, while replying to a related question asked by Congress MLA Niranjan Patel from Petlad, Anand.

The minister further said that the study was being conducted by the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), an autonomous body under the union ministry of earth science. Elaborating on the cost the study, Chudasama said that the study would cost Rs 15 crore.

When the Congress MLA asked why the study was taking time as the process was initiated in 2006-07, the minister avoided answering the question. However, he assured the house, "The techno-economic feasibility study for Kalpasar project is likely to be completed by end of 2013. Based on the recommendations of the study further process would be initiated."

The Kalpasar project envisages installation of a dam across gulf of Khambhat - connecting Bhavnagar on west to Dahej on east coast.

NIOT is studying issues related to dam site selection and the after-effects of the dam on sedimentation pattern in the gulf. The study had started in October 2010.

The project which was initiated by the Keshbhai Patel government in late 1990s with objective to create world’s largest fresh water reservoir in sea, that could store more than 10,000 MCM (million cubic meter) of surface water.

The approximate project cost of the fresh water reservouir at present cost is estimated between Rs 50,000 to 60,000 crore, according to state government’s Kalpasar department.