Gujarat plans first-of-its-kind sea dam

In a first, Gurajat is planning to build an over the sea dam in the northern portion of the Gulf of Khambat (Cambay) with an investment of over Rs 50,000 crore (Rs 500 billion).

The 35-kilometre dam project named Kalpasar Dam Alignment would lead to a sweet water reservoir. Besides, it will also have a road and rail overbridge, which will reduce the distance between Bhavnagar and Surat by 200 kilometre.

While, the main dam help generate tidal power, the reservoir is expected to supply water for drinking and agricultural purposes.

Image: The man climbed 150-feet down the well with a seven-litre rubber pouch strapped on his back to fetch a days' supply of drinking water for local residents.

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"The project envisages dam and road and rail overbridge from just north of Bhavnagar in the west coast of Gulf of Cambay to Alandar in Dahej in the east coast. Though final cost is to be worked out in detail, it will be over Rs 50,000 crore," a senior state government official said.

The timeframe will be decided once the environmental and other clearances come. The Gujarat government has already set up a dedicated department for the project -- the Kalpasar department.

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"Besides creating a fresh water reservoir in the northern portion of the Gulf of Khambat, the road and rail overbridge will reduce the distance from Bhavnagar and Surat to 150 kilometre from the existing 350 kilometre," the official said.

Travelling between Bhavnagar in Saurashtra and Surat in South Gujarat currently require a long detour through Ahmedabad. The dam is also expected to take thousands of square kilometre in the northern coast of the Gulf of Khambat out of Coastal Zone Regulation (CZR) rules.

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"This will allow development activity in a zone, which has high salinity and also create fishing opportunity in the envisage area," he said. With the construction of the dam, which is 160 kilometre from the Pipavav port, the nearby port of Bhavnagar is also likely to be upgraded as a prime port.

The Dholera Special Investment Region lies close to the proposed dam area. "The State Maritime Board is studying the proposal for upgradation and expansion of the Bhavnagar port," the official said.