Gandhinagar, 13 March, 2012

While replying a question on Kalpsar project, state minister Shri Nitinbhai Patel today said in Gujarat assembly that as per the plan made by the state government, construction of Bhadbhut barrage which is part of the Kalpasar project will begin by October this year.

Shri Patel said, “In first phase work, the government has planned to start Bhadbhut barrage construction by October this year.”

“Tasks like survey work, and technical arrangements are made to start the work,” he added.

“11 km long and 100 ft wide Bhadbhut barrage will be constructed near the mouth of Narmada river near Hansot. It will connect Hansot and Hazira through six lane highway,” the minister further said, adding that the initial cost of barrage will be around Rs 2500 crore.

The minister said that once constructed, the barrage will store more water than total water storage capacity of Saurashtra’s two big dams Shetrunji and Bhadar together.

He said that Bhadbhut dam will be connected to Kalpasar project through a 32 km long canal which is yet to be constructed.

About Kalpsar project, Shri Patel said that the project is very big.

“It’s not about building a small tank or a 15-20 km long pipeline, it is perhaps one of the biggest projects of its kind in entire Asia.”

“Various kinds of surveys are needed to be completed before kicking off the project. Moreover the project is planned for sea, and not for the land, therefore survey procedures take time which is obvious,” minister added.

He said the government is confident to complete all surveys by the end of this year and then proceed for central government approvals. The task of getting some approvals is going on at present, the minister said.

The minister said that Kalpasar project would prove more beneficial than Narmada project for the state.