- Why in news
- On 27 July 2026, the Jal Shakti Ministry told Rajya Sabha that the Kalpasar Project's Detailed Project Report is at an advanced stage of finalization, with Indo-Dutch technical cooperation under way.
- What it is
- Kalpasar is a proposed Gujarat Government project to dam the Gulf of Khambhat on India's western coast. It would form a large freshwater reservoir from the rivers that drain into the Gulf. The aim is to supply water to the water-scarce Saurashtra region.
- Project aim
- A dam across the Gulf of Khambhat would create one of the world's largest coastal freshwater reservoirs, easing water scarcity in Saurashtra.
- Road-rail link
- A highway-cum-rail corridor over the dam would cut the Bhavnagar-Surat distance from about 356 km to about 177 km.
- Renewable energy
- About 2,470 MW of hybrid renewable capacity is planned on reclaimed land that is submerged at high tide. The power would pump freshwater for irrigation.
- DPR and Dutch cooperation
- The DPR is at an advanced stage of finalization. Indo-Dutch cooperation covers coastal engineering, hydraulic modelling, salinity management, climate resilience and water management.
- Location
- The Gulf of Khambhat lies on Gujarat's coast, between the Saurashtra peninsula and the mainland of south Gujarat. It receives rivers such as the Narmada, Tapi, Mahi and Sabarmati.
Don’t confuse with Gulf of Khambhat vs Gulf of Kutch: Both are inlets on Gujarat's coast. Khambhat is in the east of the Saurashtra peninsula and Kutch is in the north-west. Kalpasar is in Khambhat.
Places in the news: 26 Prelims questions since 2013, rising (12% of news questions in 2022–26); they test location and why it matters.
Why it matters
- Could give a dependable irrigation and drinking water source for Saurashtra.
- Combines water supply, road-rail connectivity and renewable energy in one project.
Problems
- Salinity ingress and effects on estuarine ecology and fisheries.
- Very high cost and technical complexity, with long delays since the idea was first proposed.
Way forward
- Finalize the DPR with rigorous hydraulic and environmental studies.
- Run environmental impact assessment and consult local fishing communities before implementation.
Put in your answer
Connectivity gain: The corridor would shorten Bhavnagar-Surat travel by about 179 km, an example of multi-purpose infrastructure.
- 2017Mains GS1 · Q16How can floods be converted into sustainable irrigation and all-weather inland navigation sources
- 2017Mains GS3 · Q8Discuss advantages of river linking and its possible environmental impact
- 2020Mains GS3 · Q14Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation under depleting water scenario
- 2000Prelims Q47Which statement is incorrect, including that Diu is an island in Gulf of Khambhat
- 2010Prelims Q94Which statement about river Luni's outflow, including into Gulf of Khambhat, is correct
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Proposed dam across the Gulf of Khambhat for freshwater; DPR at an advanced stage, with Indo-Dutch cooperation. Places seldom reach Mains.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.