Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Sunday, 21 June 2026, conducted an aerial survey to assess the progress of the Dewas Phase III and IV Dam Project, a major water infrastructure initiative aimed at meeting the drinking water and irrigation needs of Udaipur and its surrounding areas. The Chief Minister also issued directions to officials for time-bound and quality-assured implementation of the project.

Context

Posting on X, CM Sharma stated — 'आज हवाई सर्वेक्षण के माध्यम से देवास तृतीय एवं चतुर्थ बांध परियोजना की प्रगति का जायजा लिया' ('Today, I reviewed the progress of the Dewas Phase III and IV Dam Project through an aerial survey'). He described the project as 'extremely important' for the development and prosperity of Udaipur city and surrounding regions. The Chief Minister reaffirmed the state government's resolve to deliver water to every farm and clean drinking water to every household.

He added that he had issued necessary directions to officials for the 'timely and quality-driven implementation' of this ambitious project, and noted that the 'double engine government' — referring to aligned BJP administrations at both the state and Centre — remains fully committed to all-round development and water management in the state.

Policy Backdrop

Rajasthan is one of India's most drought-prone states, and its southern region around Udaipur has historically faced recurring water scarcity despite dependence on lakes and river systems. State governments since the 1990s have pursued successive dam and lift-irrigation schemes in this belt, with the Dewas project representing a multi-phase effort to augment both urban drinking water supply and agricultural irrigation.

The current initiative aligns with national programmes including the Jal Jeevan Mission (launched 2019) and the PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana, both of which emphasise source augmentation through dams and pipeline networks. The BJP-led Rajasthan government, which took office in December 2023, has positioned water security as a flagship governance priority under the 'double engine' framework of coordinated Centre-state action.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of the Dewas III and IV phases are residents of Udaipur city — one of Rajasthan's major urban centres — along with farmers across the Udaipur division who depend on assured irrigation for their livelihoods. Reliable drinking water supply in this region has been a long-standing civic demand, making the project politically and administratively significant.

Successful completion of the dam phases is expected to reduce seasonal water stress for both domestic and agricultural users, potentially benefiting lakhs of people in the region. The aerial survey signals the Chief Minister's direct oversight of project execution, which officials are likely to treat as a prompt for accelerated on-ground activity.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to whether the state government sets formal completion milestones and allocates supplementary funds in the next Rajasthan Legislative Assembly session. Quality audits and independent progress reviews of the Dewas III-IV phases will be key indicators of whether the project stays on the timeline the Chief Minister has publicly committed to.

With water scarcity remaining a perennial challenge for southern Rajasthan, the pace of dam construction and associated pipeline infrastructure will be closely watched by both urban residents and the farming community ahead of the next monsoon cycle.