India's first multi-crore electricity driven river linking project which pumps Narmada river water into the Kshipra river has become successful due to which faithful pilgrims would have ample water to take a holy dip in Ujjain during the Simhastha Mela next year, a senior official said here today.
At an initial cost of Rs 432 crore, the project has virtually revived the Kshipra river in Ujjain, which was almost dry an year ago.
Under the river linking project, Narmada river water has been lifted to a height of 350 metres using electricity driven pumps, after which it has been diverted to the origin of the Kshipra river which is around 50 kilometres away, Narmada Valley Development Authority Executive Engineer Sanjay Joshi told PTI.
Joshi said that though the old origin of the Kshipra river could be traced to the Ujjain hills near here which is dry today, the river linking project has managed to infuse new life into the Kshipra river.
This development would enable devotees and pilgrims take a holy dip in the Kshipra river at Ujjain, where the Simhastha Mela would be held after a gap of 12 years.
Under the river linking project, four pumping stations of 1,000 kilowatt each and the rest of 9,000 kilowatt each had been set up.
After completion of three phases of the project, 3,000 villages and 70 towns of the Malwa region would have enough water, besides irrigating 16 lakh acres of land in the region.
Former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani had dedicated the project to the nation on February 24 last year.
