Why Modi’s visit to the Netherlands' Afsluitdijk dam could change the future of Gujarat’s Kalpasar project? All details inside

The trip drew attention to the importance of a strategically important issue for India: long-term water management and climate resilience.

As per MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the dam visit highlighted the relevance of Dutch expertise for India’s Kalpasar Project in Gujarat, which aims to create a freshwater reservoir and dam near the Gulf of Khambhat.

After visiting the dam, Modi, who shared several images of the trip, wrote on X: "An area in which the Netherlands has done groundbreaking work is water management. The entire international community can learn a great deal from this."

He said: " This morning, I had the opportunity to visit the Afsluitdijk and gain insight into the key features of this project. I am grateful to Prime Minister Rob Jetten for accompanying me here. "

Sharing the importance of helping irrigation and flood protection, Modi said: " We are committed to bringing modern technology to India, which is intended to help with irrigation, flood protection, and the expansion of the inland waterway network. 

The Afsluitdijk, a 32-kilometer-long dam and causeway, is a global benchmark in flood control and land reclamation, protecting large parts of the Netherlands from the North Sea while enabling freshwater storage.

During the visit to the dam, the two leaders noted that Dutch expertise in hydraulic engineering and India’s scale of implementation present opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships.

Amid Modi's visit to the Netherlands, the two sides welcomed the signing of the Letter of Intent between Ministry of Jal Shakti of India and Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands for technical cooperation on the Kalpasar project.

What is Kalpasar project?

The Kalpasar project aims to create a freshwater reservoir across the Gulf of Khambhat, integrating tidal power generation, irrigation, and transportation infrastructure.