Mahi-Luni Link Project

• 10 Mar 2025

Why in News? 

Rajasthan's Water Resources Minister informed the Assembly that VEPCOS WAPCOS is preparing the feasibility report for the Western Rajasthan Canal Project to connect the Mahi River with the Luni River. 

• WAPCOS Limited, a "Mini Ratna-I" Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, drives technology-led consultancy and engineering solutions, focusing on water, power, and infrastructure sectors in India and abroad. 

 Key Points 

• Objectives:  
  • The main objective of this project is to: 
    • To utilize the surplus water of Mahi river. 
    • To provide water to the water-scarce Jalore district. 
    • Promote water conservation by recharging water sources. 
    • To improve agriculture and drinking water supply. 
• Technical and implementation aspects:  
  • The feasibility report of the project is being prepared by the government through WAPCOS. Under this: 
    • Studies are being conducted to link the Mahi River with the Luni River. 
    • Various water supply options are being tested through the Sujalam-Sufalam project . 
    • Recharging of dams is being planned under the Run-off Water Grid Scheme. 
    • DPR (Detailed Project Report) and PFR (Pre-Feasibility Report) are being prepared. 

Mahi River 

• About: 
  • Mahi River is one of the major west flowing interstate rivers of India, flowing through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Its total drainage area is 34,842 sq km. 
  • Mahi is the only river in India which crosses the Tropic of Cancer twice . 
• Origin and flow path: 
  • The river originates from an altitude of about 500 metres from the northern slopes of the Vindhyachal range, near Bhopawar village in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. 
  • For the first 120 kilometres, the river flows in a southerly direction in Madhya Pradesh, after which it enters the south-eastern Vagad region of Rajasthan.  
  • It makes a characteristic 'U' shaped bend in Rajasthan while flowing through Banswara district. 
  • After entering Gujarat, the Mahi River merges into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Khambhat.  
  • Its total length is 583 kilometers. 

 Luni River 

• origin and flow path  
• About: 
  • The Luni River originates from the Nag Mountain of the Aravalli mountain range located in Ajmer district of Rajasthan.  
  • At its source it is first called Sagarmati , then Saraswati and finally Luni . This river flows only during the rainy season. 
  • Traveling for about 320 kilometres, the river flows through Nagaur, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer and Jalore districts of south-western Rajasthan and finally disappears in the Rann of Kutch. 
• Other names: 
  • This river is known by various names such as Sakri, Lavanavati, Lavanadri and Khari-Meethi River. 
• Tributaries: 
  • Lildi, Sukdi, Bandi, Meethri, Jojri, Jawai, Sagai etc. The only tributary river joining from the right is Jojri.