"Surplus water should be utilised instead of being wasted": Haryana CM on Yamuna Water agreement
New Delhi, June 29
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday said that the agreement with Rajasthan on the Yamuna Water Project reflects a spirit of cooperation between states to ensure optimal use of surplus water resources for drinking water needs.
Speaking after the signing of a historic agreement between Haryana and Rajasthan in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, Saini said the initiative will ensure that surplus water from the state is effectively utilised instead of being wasted.
"Rajasthan had requested that rainwater--specifically from the July-to-October period--be conveyed via pipeline for use as drinking water; today, an MoU is being signed to advance this initiative. We have carefully assessed our surplus water resources and determined that this water should be utilised rather than allowed to flow away unused," he said.
"This MoU facilitates the transport of that water from the Hathnikund Barrage to Rajasthan through a pipeline, where it will serve drinking water needs. This is a matter of great joy for all of us; it reflects the spirit that if others require water, it is our shared responsibility to ensure it reaches them," Saini added.
Earlier in the day, Rajasthan and Haryana signed the long-awaited Yamuna Water Agreement in New Delhi, ending a three-decade-long deadlock and paving the way for the implementation of a Rs 34,102 crore water infrastructure project aimed at redefining the water landscape of Rajasthan.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Shah, Patil, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Saini and senior officials from the Centre and both state governments.
Addressing the event, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said water security remains a key pillar of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and described the agreement as a landmark achievement made possible through inter-state cooperation.
Calling the agreement historic, Sharma said, "The Prime Minister firmly believes that water is not merely a natural resource, but the very foundation of life, development and the prosperity of future generations. This conviction has been the driving force behind this historic accord."
The Chief Minister thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for facilitating dialogue between the two states and helping resolve the decades-old issue.
He also appreciated Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil for ensuring the necessary technical and administrative clearances for the project.
According to a release, the project will transport Rajasthan's allocated share of 577 million cubic metres (MCM) of Yamuna water from the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana to the Hansiawas Reservoir in Churu district through a 295.5-kilometre underground pipeline network.
The project will comprise three pipelines, each measuring 3.6 metres in diameter, along with an inspection motorway, artificial reservoirs and a modern digital water management system. The project also includes provisions to supply drinking water to ten locations in Haryana.
The Rajasthan government said the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been uploaded on the Central Water Commission's e-PAMS portal, while the Haryana government has granted in-principle approval for the proposed pipeline alignment.
A dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle, the Rajasthan Haryana Yamuna Water Project-SPV (RHYW-SPV), will be established to oversee the execution, operation and maintenance of the project.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good initiative but I hope Haryana's farmers are not left high and dry. We already have water disputes with Punjab and Delhi over Yamuna waters. The CM should ensure that our own agricultural needs are met first before exporting water to other states. Surplus or not, we need transparency on how much water is actually "surplus"
As someone living in a water-starved area of Rajasthan, this is a game changer. 577 million cubic meters is a massive amount. The underground pipeline approach is smart - no evaporation losses like open canals. Central government facilitating inter-state cooperation is exactly what we need. Kudos to all involved! 👏
30 years of deadlock finally resolved - that's the real story here. Our political system moves at a snail's pace on water disputes. The SPV model for execution sounds practical. But Rs 34,102 crore is a huge investment; I hope it doesn't become another cost-overrun project like the Ken-Betwa link. Need strict monitoring and time-bound completion
This is exactly the kind of cooperative federalism we need! Amit Shah ji playing mediator between states is commendable. But I'm skeptical about the "surplus water" claim - climate change is making monsoons unpredictable. What if next year there's a drought and Haryana needs that water? Need stronger safeguards and contingency plans
Great to see states cooperating instead of fighting over water like we saw with Cauvery, Krishna, etc. The digital water management system mentioned is crucial - we need real-time monitoring to prevent theft and ensure equitable distribution. Also, providing drinking water to 10 locations
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