Ajmer, June 18 -- The Mor Sagar Dam Project is set to become a new lifeline for Ajmer district, which has been struggling with drinking water shortages for years. Under the Rajasthan government's Integrated Ajmer Water Supply Scheme, the Mor Sagar Dam in the Srinagar Valley will be expanded to store surplus water from the Bisalpur Dam. The project, estimated to cost around Rs.4,700 crore, is expected to provide long-term water security and relief from recurring drinking water crises. The water resources department and the Project Implementation Unit of the Rajasthan Water Grid Corporation have already begun survey work. Upon completion, the Mor Sagar Dam will be capable of storing nearly 200 million cubic meters of water, ensuring a stable drinking water supply for more than 3 million people in Ajmer, Beawar, Kishangarh, Nasirabad, and surrounding rural areas. Water resources minister Suresh Singh Rawat said that the biggest advantage of the project will be the availability of sufficient water despite uncertainties in the monsoon. The current issue of water supply at intervals ranging from 48 to 96 hours is also expected to improve significantly. New water infrastructure and pipeline networks will help eliminate the frequent bursting of old pipelines. The project proposes developing Mor Sagar Dam on the lines of Bisalpur Dam. Five earthen embankments will be constructed in the dam area, and a road will be developed over the dam. Drilling and geotechnical surveys are currently underway in the catchment area. The project is targeted for completion by 2028. The proposed dam height is between 30 and 35 meters, and it is expected to provide effective water storage capacity for nearly 100 years. Additionally, it will be capable of storing drinking water sufficient for the district's needs for up to two years. The project will also reduce Ajmer district's dependence on the Bisalpur Dam, as surplus water from Bisalpur will be diverted to Mor Sagar. Located about 90 kilometers from Bisalpur, Mor Sagar will receive overflow water from the Bisalpur reservoir, which in turn will be replenished through the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project with surplus water from the Parvati, Kalisindh, and Chambal rivers. Land acquisition for the dam has already begun, and social assessment teams are interacting with residents of the affected villages. The general alignment of the dam has been finalized, while its design will be approved by IIT Roorkee. The project requires approximately 1,500 hectares of land, including around 411 hectares of forest land. In exchange, 411 hectares of land in Jaisalmer will be allocated for compensatory afforestation, and an application has already been submitted. It will also require 68 hectares of privately owned agricultural land. Around 90 families are expected to be displaced and rehabilitated. Authorities are currently identifying nearly 350 hectares of land near the dam site for their resettlement. Ujjwal Yadav, president of the Srinagar Rural Struggle Committee, urged the state government to provide fair compensation and alternative housing to affected families under the rehabilitation policy and to make the dam's detailed design and layout public. Meanwhile, Satyanarayan Jangid, Tehsil president of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh in Srinagar, welcomed the project, saying it would solve the district's drinking water problems and improve farmers' livelihoods by raising groundwater levels in nearby villages....