Linking of rivers takes shape in Rajasthan, Brahmani to be connected to Banas - The Times of India
Rajasthan has kicked off preparations for first interlinking project in the state to address its drinking water and irrigation requirements.
To tap rain water going waste every monsoon, the Brahmani and Banas rivers are proposed to be interlinked by digging a tunnel between the two. Work has been allotted to PDCOR (a company jointly promoted by the Government of Rajasthan and Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited), which is conducting a detailed study on how to bring water from the Brahmani river to Bisalpur.
Chambal river originates in Madhya Pradesh and enters Rajasthan at Chaurasigarh of Chittorgarh district. As the Chambal river moves in the state, it enters Kota district from Chittorgarh. In Chittorgarh's Rawatbhata, there is a Rana Pratap dam on Chambal river. During monsoon, huge amount of water gathers in the catchment area of the dam. There is a plan to lift the rain water collected in the catchment area of the dam through pumps to transfer it in Brahmani dam, which will be some 17 kilometers away from the pump station in Rana Pratap dam's catchment area. This will add up more water in the Brahmani dam to be transferred to Bisalpur dam.
Another challenge before the government is to take clearance from environment, forest departments and some sanctuaries for the project-including crocodile and Jawahar Sagar sanctuary.
There is a pact between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan government on Chambal water. The left main canal (LMC) of Chambal river supplies water for irrigation in Bundi and Kota region while the right main canal of Chambal river supplies water in MP for irrigation. The project has to be designed in such a way that it does not affect the pact by "disturbing" Chambal river.