In a major step towards resolving a decades old inter state water issue, Haryana and Rajasthan on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the 1994 Yamuna Water Sharing Agreement, ensuring Rajasthan receives its allocated share of Yamuna water.
The agreement marks the implementation of the 32 year old pact and is expected to improve water availability in Rajasthan’s water stressed Shekhawati region, where public representatives and social organisations have long demanded access to Yamuna water.
Under the agreement, Rajasthan will receive 33,379 cusecs of Yamuna water during the July to October period. The project includes the construction of a nearly 300 kilometre underground pipeline from Hathinikund to Rajasthan at an estimated cost of Rs 3,900 crore.
The MoU also lays down the framework for land acquisition, pipeline construction, monitoring, operation and maintenance, with responsibilities to be shared by both states.
The breakthrough follows high level discussions held last week between Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, who reviewed the long pending issue of Yamuna water distribution.
Under the 1994 Yamuna Water Sharing Agreement, Haryana is entitled to 40.6 per cent of the river’s waters, Uttar Pradesh 35.1 per cent, Rajasthan 10.4 per cent, Delhi 6.3 per cent and Himachal Pradesh 1.7 per cent.
The implementation of the agreement is expected to provide a reliable source of water to Rajasthan’s drought prone areas, where groundwater levels have declined due to excessive extraction and limited local water resources. The project is being seen as a significant step towards strengthening water security and promoting better utilisation of the Yamuna’s allocated waters.
While some experts have raised concerns over groundwater recharge in parts of Haryana and Opposition leaders have questioned aspects of the implementation, the agreement is widely viewed as an important milestone in operationalising a long pending inter state water sharing arrangement.