Rajasthan’s River-Link Project | Rajasthan | 14 Jan 2025

Why in News? 

The proposed river-linking project in Rajasthan, which aims to address the state’s growing water scarcity, has sparked significant debate over its potential environmental impact.  

• The canal project is expected to channel surplus water of the Chambal river basin for irrigation, drinking and industrial use to 23 districts of Rajasthan, benefitting 3.45 crore people. 

 Key Points 

• This river linking project is mounting over the possible submergence of approximately 37 square kilometers within the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. 
• The submergence will be caused by the largest dam proposed under the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal-Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (PKC-ERCP), which is part of the ambitious Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) program. 
  • The PKC-ERCP project in Rajasthan involves a total submergence area of 408.86 sq km. Of this, 227 sq km will be submerged under the reservoir of a proposed dam across the Banas River, a Chambal tributary.  
    • The dam, planned to be 39 meters high and 1.6 km long, will be located near Doongri village, about 30 km from Sawai Madhopur. 
  • The project details show, 37.03 sq km belong to Ranthambore National Park (392 sq km) and Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary (674 sq km), both part of the Ranthambhore tiger reserve (1,113 sq km), currently home to 57 tigers. 
    • Ranthambhore is the third tiger reserve facing loss of land to upcoming reservoirs. 
• The environmental cost of the project has become a contentious issue. Conservationists warn that submerging parts of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve could threaten the biodiversity of one of India’s most celebrated wildlife sanctuaries.  
  • Ranthambore, home to a stable population of tigers and other species, plays a crucial role in the nation’s conservation efforts.