Residents of Rajasthan Applaud ERCP Launch, Express Gratitude to Modi Government for Addressing Water Shortage

Jaipur, Dec 17 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 'Ek Varsh-Parinaam Utkarsh' event on Tuesday, celebrating the first anniversary of the Bhajanlal government.

He inaugurated and laid the groundwork for 24 projects related to Energy, Road, Rail, and Water totaling over Rs 46,300 crore, which includes the interlinking of 11 rivers across the state.

The interlinking of rivers, part of the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), represents an ambitious initiative aimed at connecting at least 11 rivers in the region, transforming Rajasthan from a water-scarce state to a water-abundant one.

During his speech, PM Modi referenced former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's vision for river interlinking and recalled his government's initiatives to channel water from the Narmada river into various parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

He expressed his hope for a future where Rajasthan will no longer suffer from water shortages and will possess ample water resources for the region's growth.

Numerous local residents expressed their joy over the approval of the long-awaited ERCP and thanked the Prime Minister for launching a project that could prove to be a 'game-changer' in alleviating the state's water crisis.

A local resident shared their happiness with IANS, stating, 'Rajasthan is a large state, but over the past 75 years, successive governments have merely made empty promises to tackle the water crisis. A little progress was made by Ganga Prasad, leading to the Rajasthan Canal project, but it fell short of expectations. Now, with the ERCP implementation across 13-14 districts and PM Modi personally announcing it, it is poised to make a significant impact. Approximately 40 percent of the state’s territory will finally gain access to water.'

Another resident remarked, 'PM Modi is a leader that the people believe in. The ERCP scheme is addressing the long-standing water challenges in eastern Rajasthan. In the near future, we will see areas where groundwater levels have plummeted to zero finally receiving water. This initiative will be historic.'

A resident from Shekhawati in Rajasthan expressed, 'I want to thank PM Modi for launching the ERCP scheme, which will benefit many districts in Rajasthan. Soon, the efforts initiated under this scheme will start yielding positive results.'

A different local mentioned, 'Rajasthan is geographically vast, with a significant part being arid. Despite this, no government has taken substantial actions to solve the water crisis. We have endured this issue for decades, but now PM Modi has bestowed upon us this invaluable gift, and we are incredibly thankful.'

PM Modi also informed the audience that shortly after the establishment of BJP governments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, an agreement was made regarding the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link project, which aims to connect the Chambal River and its tributaries, including Parbati, Kalisindh, Kuno, Banas, Ruparel, Gambhiri, and Mej rivers.

He stated that this water agreement will provide irrigation and drinking water to 21 districts in Rajasthan while also promoting development in both Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.