RAS question
The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) aims to utilise surplus monsoon water from which river system?
Correct answer: (A) Chambal and its tributaries during surplus flow.
The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project aims to use surplus monsoon water from the Chambal Basin, including its Kalisindh, Parvati, Mej and Chakan sub-basins, for eastern Rajasthan.
Explanation
ERCP is a Chambal Basin transfer project, not a western or out-of-state river diversion. The Press Information Bureau release says the project envisages intra-basin transfer of water within the Chambal Basin by using surplus monsoon water available in the Kalisindh, Parvati, Mej and Chakan sub-basins. That water is to be diverted towards water-deficit sub-basins such as Banas, Gambhiri, Banganga and Parbati, serving 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan. The exam-relevant seasonal point is that the surplus is targeted in July-September, when flows exceed requirements, and is meant for drinking, irrigation and industrial use. This is why the correct option is Chambal and its tributaries during surplus flow.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Luni and its tributaries belong to western Rajasthan, whereas ERCP is framed around eastern Rajasthan and surplus monsoon water within the Chambal Basin.
- (C) Yamuna via an inter-state agreement does not match ERCP, which uses surplus water within the Chambal Basin.
- (D) Narmada through canal diversion refers to a different canal context and is not connected to ERCP's Chambal Basin surplus-water design.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan's river systems and regional water-resource planning. ERCP recurs in RAS because it links the Chambal Basin, monsoon surplus, eastern Rajasthan's water deficit and major state infrastructure planning in one topic.