The governments of Rajasthan and Haryana on Monday signed an agreement for the construction and implementation of the Yamuna Water Project, marking the resolution of a long-pending inter-state water issue. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil.
The project aims to facilitate the conveyance of Rajasthan’s allocated share of Yamuna waters through an underground pipeline system connected to the Western Yamuna Canal, enabling the state to utilise the water allocated under the 1994 Memorandum of Understanding on the sharing of utilisable surface waters of the Upper Yamuna Basin.
Under the agreement, around 580 million cubic metres (MCM) of water will be supplied from the Yamuna Canal to Rajasthan between July and October through three underground pipelines, each measuring more than 3.6 metres in diameter. The project is expected to improve drinking water supply in Sikar, Churu and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, while also benefiting the Bhiwani and Fatehabad regions of Haryana.
According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the agreement lays down a comprehensive framework covering water allocation, financial responsibilities, cost-sharing, water release protocols, infrastructure operation and maintenance, monitoring mechanisms, transparency measures and dispute resolution.
The project also seeks to utilise rainwater that previously went unused by storing it in large ponds, helping improve groundwater recharge in the region.
Addressing the event, Amit Shah described the agreement as a significant step in resolving a water-related issue that had remained pending for nearly three decades. He said the agreement reflects the spirit of cooperative federalism and coordinated efforts between the Centre and the two states.
The Union Home Minister also said the framework prepared for the project is designed to ensure long-term implementation and minimise future disputes. He credited the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Central Water Commission for facilitating the agreement.
