New Delhi, Sep 24 The Ministry of Jal Shakti on Thursday signed two tripartite MoUs with the Netherlands for technical cooperation and capacity building for the Kalpasar project in Gujarat, as the two countries sought to further strengthen the strategic partnership in the water sector.
The MoUs were signed between the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Kalpasar Department of the Gujarat government and the Dutch knowledge institutions, Deltares and TU Delft, on the sidelines of the ninth India International Water Week (IIWW) 2026 here.
Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil and Netherlands Vice Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management Jaap Slootmaker chaired a bilateral meeting on the strategic partnership at Bharat Mandapam.
The meeting focused on strengthening India-Netherlands cooperation in the water sector, particularly technical cooperation for advancing the Kalpasar Project.
Speaking on the occasion, Patil said the MoUs with Deltares and TU Delft will deepen cooperation in the execution of the Kalpasar project and capacity building, and provide a strong basis for both countries to work together towards its successful execution.
The Kalpasar project was discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands in May this year, following which a Letter of Intent for technical cooperation was signed on May 16, Patil said.
The project envisages creation of a freshwater reservoir using runoff from the Sabarmati, Mahi and Dhadhar rivers, supplemented by water conveyed from the Narmada River, he said.
Patil said an Indian delegation’s visit to the Netherlands in July provided valuable insights into flood protection, coastal infrastructure, hydraulic modelling, sluice and pumping systems, dyke technologies and ecological solutions.
He also highlighted parallels with the Netherlands’ Afsluitdijk in terms of engineering, water management and coastal infrastructure.
Slootmaker said the Letter of Intent on technical cooperation for the Kalpasar Project provides opportunities for further India-Netherlands cooperation.
The MoUs will facilitate technical collaboration through sharing of Dutch expertise and advanced engineering practices for planning, design and implementation of the project.
The cooperation with Deltares will cover technical review, hydraulic and hydrological modelling, coastal and structural engineering, climate resilience, capacity building, knowledge transfer and digital applications.
The ninth IIWW is being held at Bharat Mandapam from September 22 to 26, with “Climate Resilient Water Management” as its theme.
(PTI News)
