Introduction :
Kalpasar is Gujarat’s Key Project for the New
Millennium.
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Water Resources Scenario of Gujarat State :
The State of Gujarat with a population of 50 million
(year 2000) is situated on the West Coast of India. It
has a geographical area of 1,96,000 sq.km (19.6 Mha) and
the cultivable area of 12.36 Mha. The average annual
rainfall, confined to 3 months of the monsoon season, is
760 mm which is highly variable both in space and time,
the southern part receiving 2500 mm of rainfall while
the northern portion including Kachchh and the
Saurashtra peninsula receiving rainfall of 300 to 450
mm. Intra-state rivers are small with very low and
highly variable flows. Every 3rd year is a drought year
in Saurashtra, North Gujarat and Kachchh region. Monsoon
waters are required to be stored in reservoirs for use
in the lean nine months of the year. The ground waters
are saline and contain harmful proportions of fluorides
and nitrates in large parts of the State. The limited
utilizable ground water has been over exploited over the
past 3 to 4 decades and ground water tables are
presently going down rapidly by as much as 3 meters
every year in North Gujarat and Kachchh regions. In
recent past Gujarat has faced its most severe droughts
in the years 1987 and 2000.
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Historical
Background :
The Gulf of Khambhat was identified as a promising site
for tidal power generation by UNDP Expert, Mr. Eric
Wilson in the year 1975. 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 Gulf was
technically feasible.
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Pre-feasibility Report :
The State Government carried out Pre-feasibility Study
for the project through a foreign Consulting Firm which
was completed in 1998. The study concluded that tidal
power generation benefits should be supplemented by
creation of a sweet water basin by impounding surplus
water of the Narmada, Dhadhar, Mahi, Sabarmati which
would provide irrigation, water supply and reclamation
benefits. It concluded that the development of Gulf of
Khambhat is feasible from the technical and
socio-economic points of view.
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Kalpasar Project Transformed :
A project thus conceived initially as a tidal power
project was transformed as tidal power cum fresh water
supply project providing large multipurpose benefits.
It is in fact a project envisaging total multipurpose
development of the Gulf of Khambhat. It is proposed to
build a dam across the Gulf of Khambhat connecting
Ghogha in Bhavnagar and Hansot in Bharuch Districts.
The reservoir formed will be sub-divided into (a) Tidal
basin and (b) Fresh water basin. This would provide
benefits of tidal power generation, as well as use of
large quantities of fresh water.This unique concept has,
in no small measure, contributed to the economic
viability of the Mega Project. The scope and size of
the project would perhaps exceed that of any other
similar project in the world.
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Six Specific Studies :
The Government of Gujarat, after review of
Pre-feasibility Report, decided to carry out six
intermediate studies before a decision is taken on going
ahead with the preparation of a full scale Feasibility
Report. These studies addressed some major concerns
regarding environmental aspects and techno-economic
feasibility as follows:
- Water quality in the future reservoir
sustainability of benefits.
- Hydraulic and morphological impacts within the
reservoir, on the downstream as well as upstream.
- Drainage aggravation and salt balance on the
peripheral area of the lake.
- Economy of tidal power generation and
feasibility of absorption by India’s Western
Regional Grid.
- Review, reappraisal and integration of benefits
from fresh water of Kalpasar reservoir which those
of other projects in Gujarat.
- Economic and financial evaluation.
[ Top ] Scope and Size of Project :
The pre-feasibility study and six specific studies has
shown that the project is technically and economically
viable and detailed feasibility study needs to be taken
up.
The project planning and designs as well as the nature
and quantum of benefits have undergone several changes
and now the project has emerged as a mega-multi-purpose
project.
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Estimated Cost :
The cost is
approximately Rs.54,000 crores for single tidal basin
options and Rs.47,800 crores for double tidal basin
option at 1999 price level. The cost of the Kalpasar dam
and tidal power works is estimated as Rs.44,301 crores
and Rs.38,124 crores for single basin and double basin
respectively at 1999 price level.
Current Position :
Now
the project is well poised to undertake preparation of a
Feasibility Report. A major programme of establishing
comprehensive data bases for assessment of detailed
environmental impact and other studies will be launched
first. Also for preparing detailed bathymetric and
topographical/GIS surveys, and conducting geo-technical
investigations, seismic studies etc. to enable
preparation of the detailed feasibility report including
a bankable project proposal.
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Plan of Action :
In keeping with the planned completion schedule of the
Kalpasar Project, before end of second decade of the
Millennium, it is essential that the detailed
feasibility report is completed with the latest
technology through a high international standard within
the next 3-4 years. This, including the bankable project
proposal, has to be prepared after carrying out various
detailed and comprehensive investigations. These would
include geotechnical assessments and explorations,
topographical and bathymetric surveys, marine
observations and analysis for the determination of
design height of the sea waves, silt content in tidal
waters as well as intensive data concerning the Arabian
Sea tides.
The Government of Gujarat has now taken up the task of
preparation of the full scale feasibility report for
which action plan has been prepared. All these
activities will be taken up on hand with the help of the
expert groups of both National and Internationals.
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