Pact to implement Yamuna water accord inked, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Haryana and Rajasthan signed an agreement for the Yamuna Water Project in New Delhi on June 29, 2026.
• The pact aims to implement the long-delayed 1994 Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) agreement for Yamuna water sharing.
• Approximately 580 Million Cubic Meters (MCM) of water will be supplied from the Hathnikund Barrage to Rajasthan through three underground pipelines.
• The project, estimated at ₹3,900 crore, will provide drinking water to several districts in both states.

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Detailed Insights:

• The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, along with the Chief Ministers of both states.
• Rajasthan's allocated share of Yamuna water under the 1994 UYRB agreement could not be utilized for decades due to the absence of a proper conveyance system.
• The three underground pipelines, each over 3.6 meters in diameter, will facilitate water transfer during the monsoon months, from July to October.
• Districts such as Sikar, Churu, and Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, and Bhiwani and Fatehabad in Haryana, are expected to benefit from improved drinking water supply.
• The 1994 UYRB agreement originally involved Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi, with Uttarakhand joining in 2001.
• This resolution is highlighted as an example of Cooperative Federalism, demonstrating how long-standing inter-state issues can be resolved through dialogue.
• The implementation of this project is also expected to accelerate other crucial storage projects in the Yamuna basin, including the Renukaji Dam Project, Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project, and Lakhwar-Vyasi Project.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Inter-state Water Dispute: Conflicts between states over the sharing and management of river waters, often requiring central government intervention.
• Cooperative Federalism: A principle in which the central government and state governments collaborate to achieve common goals and resolve shared challenges.
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): A formal agreement between two or more parties outlining their intentions and areas of cooperation, though often not legally binding.
• Barrage: A type of low-head dam with a series of gates that regulate water flow, primarily used for irrigation or diverting water into canals.