The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, the former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, has raised concerns about the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), accusing the BJP-led government in Rajasthan of misleading the public. Gehlot claims the BJP is protecting Madhya Pradesh’s interests while neglecting Rajasthan’s needs in the project.
Gehlot, speaking in Dausa, highlighted that the BJP is generating confusion about the ERCP and deceiving Rajasthan’s people. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the way dams are being constructed in Madhya Pradesh, leading to disproportionate benefits for the state at the expense of Rajasthan.
The ERCP, initiated in the Rajasthan Budget of 2017-18 during the BJP’s tenure, aims to address the water scarcity in 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan. These districts include Jhalawar, Baran, Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Tonk, Jaipur, Dausa, Karauli, Alwar, Bharatpur, and Dholpur. The project, significant for its potential to provide drinking and irrigation water, has become a point of contention between the Congress and BJP.
Gehlot also urged the Central government to designate the ERCP as a national project, highlighting its importance for the region. Additionally, he appealed to the current state government not to discontinue the public welfare schemes launched during his administration, emphasizing their humanitarian value.
Echoing Gehlot’s concerns, Sachin Pilot, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan and a prominent Congress figure, emphasized the need to protect Rajasthan’s interests in the ERCP. Pilot, speaking before his departure to Dholpur, also acknowledged the role of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in voicing the concerns of the nation’s youth, women, and farmers.
Gehlot’s statements have added to the ongoing political debate surrounding the ERCP, highlighting regional disparities and the complexities of inter-state water management in India.
