New Delhi, June 29: Rajasthan and Haryana are set to sign a water-sharing agreement regarding the Yamuna River today in New Delhi, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in attendance. The event will also see the presence of Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C.R. Patil.
This agreement aims to resolve a three-decade-long impasse between the two states. According to official sources, a lengthy meeting held on Sunday allowed officials from both states to finalize the framework. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will formally endorse the agreement.
Officials from the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that Bhajan Lal Sharma departed from Jaipur to New Delhi at 8:30 AM. The signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Yamuna water project will take place at Duty Bhawan-3 in New Delhi.
The Yamuna water project will provide irrigation and drinking water to three districts in Rajasthan’s Shekhawati region: Sikar, Churu, and Jhunjhunu. Officials stated, “The signing will take place in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister C.R. Patil, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the Union Home Secretary, and senior officials from both state governments.”
Following a two-hour meeting at Bikaner House in New Delhi, officials from both states reached this agreement. Rajasthan was represented by Chief Secretary V. Srinivasan, Additional Chief Secretary Abhay Kumar, and Chief Engineer Bhuvan from the Water Resources Department. Haryana was represented by Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Agarwal and Chief Engineer Virendra Singh, while Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi participated via video conferencing.
According to the agreement, Haryana will draw water from several designated points, including 10 cusecs from Danoda Kalan, 80 cusecs from the Sarasod distributary near Nayagaon, 70 cusecs from Hindwan on Chaudhary Minor, 20 cusecs from Patton on the Sarasana Minor, 2 cusecs from Sega Narar, 43 cusecs from Pyoda near Kaithal, and 41.83 cusecs from Chandna-Manas Road near Kaithal. Additionally, Haryana will have access to another designated intake point and will be allowed to draw water from one of three reservoirs at Hasiyaawas if necessary.
The financial burden of this project will be borne by the Rajasthan government, which will also seek financial assistance from the central government. Officials noted that this pipeline network will facilitate the delivery of water from future projects like Kishau, Lakhwar, and Renukaji to Rajasthan.
While Haryana had proposed a reconsideration of water distribution due to changing needs since the 1994 agreement, both states have currently agreed to implement the original agreement. Under this agreement, Rajasthan will receive 1,917 cusecs of water from the Yamuna.
To streamline water supply, three pipelines will be laid from Hathnikund to Hasiyaawas, each with a diameter of 3.6 meters. The proposed pipelines will traverse five districts in Haryana: Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, and Hisar.
Officials indicated that once formal approval of the agreement is obtained, land acquisition for the pipeline corridor will commence. Construction will begin after tenders are issued.
Leave a Comment