Explanation:

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said that the Madhya Pradesh government’s consent is not required for executing the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project

The chief minister made the statement citing a decision of an interstate board way back in 2005.

Rajasthan government has been long demanding that the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project be given the status of a national project as the canal will benefit 13 districts facing scarcity of water for drinking and irrigation purposes.

According to the Rajasthan government, the project will receive water from tributaries of the Chambal river in Rajasthan and use less than 10 per cent of the water flowing from Madhya Pradesh.

Therefore, as per a decision taken in 2005, the consent of Madhya Pradesh is not required for such projects, said the chief minister, citing the decision taken by a Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh Interstate Board.

In the past, Rajasthan also did not object to the projects constructed by Madhya Pradesh on the Chambal and tributaries like this. Similarly, the cooperation of Madhya Pradesh is expected on the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project.

The project aims at harvesting surplus water available during the rainy season in the Chambal and its tributaries Kunnu, Parvati and Kalisindh, and use it in 13 districts where there is a scarcity of water for drinking and irrigation purposes.