HM Amit Shah paves way for consensus on Kishau dam project to revive Yamuna
New Delhi, June 16
In good news for the rejuvenation of the Yamuna, a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday achieved a consensus among six states on the long-pending Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project on the border of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
The meeting decided that 90 per cent of the cost of the water component of the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project will be borne by the Central Government as Central Assistance, while the remaining 10 per cent financial burden will be shared by the six participating states.
The meeting also reached a consensus to allocate Himachal Pradesh's share of water to Delhi and Rajasthan in return for sharing the cost of Himachal Pradesh's portion of the power component, said a statement.
This decision will prove to be a significant milestone in the journey towards a cleaner and rejuvenated Yamuna, ensuring an increased flow of clean water in the river.
Following the initiative of the Home Minister, the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the Kishau Multipurpose Project, said a statement.
Following the signing of the MoU, the project will be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval, it said.
The meeting was attended by Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Minister of Jal Shakti C. R. Patil, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Union Home Secretary, the Union Water Resources Secretary, the Secretary of the Ministry of Power, the Chief Secretaries of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central government has been translating the principle of 'Solutions Through Dialogue' into action by building consensus on important issues of national and public interest that had remained unresolved for many years, said the statement.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a Delhi resident, the stench of Yamuna during summers is unbearable. This dam might actually bring some clean water downstream. But why did it take so many decades? Political will matters, and credit where due - Home Minister Shah pushed this through. Ab dekhte hain implementation ka time table! 🏞️
Good step but I'm skeptical. Kishau dam has been discussed since my grandfather's time. The real challenge is ensuring water actually reaches Yamuna and isn't diverted for farming in Haryana or UP. Need strict monitoring mechanisms, not just consensus on paper.
Jai Ho! Modi ji's government is solving problems that were pending for generations. This is what cooperative federalism looks like. Six states agreeing is no small feat. The water share for Rajasthan is especially important - our desert state needs every drop. 🚰
Hope this isn't another bureaucratic exercise. Remember the Ken-Betwa link? Still stuck in paperwork. The power component sharing is clever - Himachal gets revenue, others get water. But environmental clearance and rehabilitation of displaced families need priority. We can't trade ecology for politics.
Impressive to see bureaucratic deadlock broken. As someone who works in water management, the cost-sharing model (90% central, 10% states) makes this politically palatable. However, will this really "revive" Yamuna? The river needs treated sewage diversion, not just more dam water. Multifaceted approach required. 🌊
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.