Rethink Kalpasar, end 'civil engineering mindset' in Gujarat's water strategy

Prof. Vidyut Joshi, a prominent sociologist and one of the leading protagonists of the mega Narmada dam project, has raised critical questions regarding the viability of Gujarat’s ambitious Kalpasar project. Writing in the Gujarati daily Sandesh under the headline "Let us consider alternatives scientifically for the Kalpasar project," Joshi argues that rather than remaining trapped in a "civil engineering mindset" focused solely on constructing massive dams, the state must pivot to modern, sustainable, and technologically viable alternatives to quench the thirst of the arid Saurashtra region.

The Kalpasar project, envisioned to create a massive fresh-water reservoir by constructing a 30-kilometer-long dam across the Gulf of Khambhat, has long been a dream for regional water security. Joshi traces the history of the concept back to 1982 when Bhogilal Shah first proposed it, a vision later advanced by water resource experts like Dr. Anil Kane, who named it Kalpasar in 1985. 

The original premise was grand: trapping the fresh water of nearly a dozen rivers to irrigate over 10.38 lakh hectares across Saurashtra, providing billions of cubic meters of water for drinking and industry, and creating a massive road-rail bridge across the gulf to cut travel times. However, decades later, the project has failed to break ground, and Joshi notes that the foundation of the idea itself is deeply flawed under modern scrutiny.

​The primary hurdle is structural and geological. To anchor a mega-dam across the Gulf of Khambhat, a solid rock foundation is required within 10 meters of the seabed. However, surveys indicate that the gulf bed consists of 348 meters of soft silt before any hard rock is reached. A dam weighing 4.40 crore cubic meters of soil, 4.04 crore cubic meters of sand, and 20 crore cubic meters of concrete simply cannot be supported by such a foundation. Proposals for a floating dam have been floated, but expert engineers like Dr. Kane have warned that the colossal force of the gulf's high-tide waves would ultimately destroy a floating structure or cause saltwater to seep back in, rendering the reservoir useless.

​Furthermore, the economic burden of Kalpasar has skyrocketed to astronomical proportions. Initially estimated at ₹5,000 crore during Vithalbhai Patel's era, the cost projection rose to ₹50,000 crore by 2008. Today, Joshi reveals, the estimated cost has scaled to a staggering ₹1,20,000 crore, which represents nearly 25% to 30% of Gujarat’s total state budget. Given the immense delays, the cost could easily touch ₹1,75,000 crore before completion, making the cost-benefit ratio of the project entirely unviable. Compounding this is the environmental reality that river inflows into the gulf have drastically decreased over the last few decades, and the water coming from rivers like the Sabarmati is heavily polluted, meaning Kalpasar would likely trap toxic effluents rather than fresh water.

​Rather than chasing an impossible engineering feat, Joshi urges the government to look at Saurashtra’s 700-kilometer-long coastline and implement decentralised scientific alternatives. First, he advocates for large-scale desalination plants. 

Pointing to the Reliance refinery in Jamnagar, which successfully desalinates seawater at a minimal cost of ten paise per liter, Joshi suggests setting up decentralized reverse osmosis (RO) plants every 10 kilometers along the coast. This would allow fresh drinking water to be piped just 30 kilometers inland, efficiently covering the entire region. The highly concentrated brine byproduct could be sold to chemical industries, turning a waste product into revenue.

​Second, instead of a mega-dam across the sea, Joshi proposes constructing smaller, cost-effective barrage dams on individual rivers just before they empty into the gulf. Fresh water collected from these barrages could then be transported via pipelines directly to western Saurashtra. Third, he emphasizes the recycling and purification of industrial wastewater, which could be treated to tertiary standards and reused for agriculture and manufacturing. Finally, Joshi highlights the immense potential of harnessing renewable energy along the coast by installing wind turbines, solar panels, and exploring modern tidal energy technology directly in the sea.

​Joshi concludes by recalling that when the Narmada project was being planned, the government formed an expert planning group to ensure its success. He appeals to the Gujarat government to once again establish a high-level expert committee to move past outdated engineering mindsets and creatively implement these modern, localized water solutions for Saurashtra.