New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the iconic Afsluitdijk Dam in the Netherlands during his official visit has drawn attention to a less discussed but strategically important issue for India: long-term water management and climate resilience.Accompanied by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetton, PM Modi visited the massive barrier dam that has protected the Netherlands from floods for decades and also helps manage freshwater storage, inland waterways and renewable energy generation.This visit was not merely symbolic. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the Afsluitdijk project has a direct link to Gujarat’s ambitious Kalpasar Project, a proposed mega freshwater reservoir and dam system in the Gulf of Khambhat, which has been studied for decades.In a post on Twitter, PM Modi highlighted the importance of Dutch expertise in water engineering.PM Modi said, “One area where the Netherlands has done pioneering work is water management. The entire international community can learn a lot from it. This morning I had the opportunity to visit Afsluitdijk and learn about the key features of this project. I am grateful to Prime Minister Rob Jetton for being here with me. We are committed to bringing modern technology to India, designed to aid in irrigation, flood protection and expansion of inland waterway networks.”External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also described the visit as an opportunity for deeper India-Dutch cooperation in climate resilience, water technology and sustainable infrastructure.“A symbol of engineering excellence and innovation! Accompanied by Netherlands Prime Minister Rob Jetton, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the iconic Afsluitdijk Dam, which is a symbol of Dutch excellence in water management, flood protection and freshwater storage. The visit highlighted the relevance of Dutch expertise to India’s Kalpasar project in Gujarat, which aims to create a freshwater reservoir and dam near the Gulf of Khambhat,” Jaiswal posted on Twitter.
What is Afsluitdijk?
The Afsluitdijk is one of the Netherlands’ most famous engineering projects and a central pillar of the country’s centuries-old battle against water.Originally completed about 80 years ago, the 32-kilometre-long barrier dam separates the North Sea from the IJsselmeer freshwater lake and protects large parts of the lower Netherlands from severe flooding.The structure also serves economic and environmental functions, including freshwater storage, navigation, transportation connectivity, and renewable energy generation.Now undergoing a major modernization program often referred to as “Afsluitdijk 2.0”, the project is being redesigned to withstand storms expected only once every 10,000 years.The advanced system includes reinforced locks, improved water discharge systems, fish migration corridors and renewable energy technologies involving tidal flows, freshwater-saltwater interactions, solar and wind power.Dutch authorities estimate that the modernization project will cost around €800 million.The Afsluitdijk also demonstrates how flood defense infrastructure can perform multiple functions simultaneously. In addition to protecting against rising sea levels and storm surges, the project supports inland transportation, tourism, cycling infrastructure and long-term freshwater protection.
Why is India interested?
India’s interest in Dutch water engineering is growing amid growing concerns over climate change, urban flooding, water scarcity and extreme weather events.Many Indian states, especially coastal and drought-prone areas, are facing simultaneous risks of water scarcity, salinity intrusion and flood disasters.For Gujarat, the proposed Kalpasar project represents an attempt to address multiple challenges through a single mega infrastructure system.The project envisages building a 30-km dam in the Gulf of Khambhat, which could become the world’s largest freshwater reservoir in a marine environment.The reservoir will store about 10 billion cubic meters of fresh water drawn from rivers including Narmada, Mahi, Sabarmati and Dhadar.The stored water will be used for irrigation, drinking water supply and industrial needs, especially in water-stressed areas of Saurashtra and parts of South Gujarat.The project also proposes a 10-lane transport corridor over the dam, which will reduce the travel distance between Saurashtra and South Gujarat by more than 200 kilometres.In its earlier concept, the project also included a large tidal power generation component, although that element has been removed from the revised design.
scale of Kalpasara philosophy
The Kalpasar project has been discussed in Gujarat since the 1970s and remains one of India’s most ambitious proposed water infrastructure plans.The idea was originally conceptualized in 1975 after the Gulf of Khambhat was identified as a potential site for tidal energy generation. Over time, the focus shifted more towards freshwater storage, flood control, transportation and irrigation.The revised scheme now comprises three major components.The first is the main Kalpasar Dam which connects Bhavnagar district to Bharuch district across the Gulf of Khambhat.The second is the Bhadbhut Barrage on the Narmada River near Bharuch, which aims to prevent salt water intrusion by diverting freshwater into the reservoir system.The third is a vast canal network that connects barrages and reservoirs, distributing water throughout Saurashtra.The estimated cost of the project has increased steadily over the years and is now estimated at around Rs 85,000-90,000 crore.If found technically and environmentally viable, experts estimate that construction alone could take 12 to 15 years, while the timeline for the entire project could extend up to two decades.
Why does the Dutch model matter?
The Netherlands offers India a real-world example of how large-scale water infrastructure can integrate flood defence, freshwater management, transport and renewable energy into a long-term strategy.Unlike many countries, the Dutch have centuries of experience living below sea level and dealing with the threat of frequent floods.Much of the country’s modern identity has been shaped by large engineering systems involving dams, levees, storm barriers, canals, and pumping stations.For India, especially for states vulnerable to coastal flooding and salinity intrusion, Dutch expertise may become increasingly relevant.The Kalpasar project faces major engineering, environmental and ecological challenges. Studies are still investigating issues related to marine ecosystems, sedimentation, fisheries impacts, navigation routes, and long-term environmental sustainability.Even after decades of planning, many feasibility studies remain incomplete.As of July 2019, only 25 of the 43 feasibility studies related to ecological, environmental, social and financial impacts had been completed, while several others were pending.No final environmental clearance has been given yet for the main Kalpsar Dam project.The Dutch experience in balancing environmental protection and water engineering can therefore provide valuable lessons for India as it evaluates the long-term feasibility of Kalpasar.
Climate change and the future of water infrastructure
PM Modi’s visit to Afsluitdijk also reflects a broader global shift in how governments are working towards climate resilience infrastructure.Rising sea levels, unpredictable monsoons, glacier melt, extreme rainfall and prolonged drought are forcing countries to rethink traditional water management systems.For India, the challenge is particularly complex as it faces both floods and water shortages simultaneously in different regions.Projects like Kalpasar represent efforts to build large-scale long-term water storage and climate resilience infrastructure. But they also raise difficult environmental and financial questions.The Netherlands’ approach shows that future infrastructure systems may need to combine flood protection, freshwater protection, renewable energy, transportation and ecological management rather than treating them separately.This appears to be one of the key messages behind PM Modi’s highly symbolic visit to Afsluitdijk.The visit ultimately highlighted that India’s interest in the Dutch model is not just about engineering. It is also about preparing for a future where climate resilience and water security can become central pillars of national infrastructure planning.
