The governments of Haryana and Rajasthan signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday to implement the Yamuna Water Project [1, 2].
The agreement ends a three-decade impasse over water sharing and aims to provide critical drinking-water supplies to Rajasthan by transporting surplus rainwater from Haryana's Hathnikund Barrage [2, 3].
The signing ceremony took place in New Delhi. The project operationalizes the 1994 Upper Yamuna River Board Agreement, which had remained largely dormant for 30 years [1, 2]. Under the terms of the new pact, water will be drawn from the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana and moved to Rajasthan through a dedicated pipeline system [1, 3].
Financial estimates for the Yamuna water project stand at Rs 34,102 crore [1]. The infrastructure will allow Rajasthan to access surplus water during rainy seasons, a move intended to stabilize the region's water security.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma signed the document [4], reports said. The move represents a shift in inter-state cooperation regarding the Upper Yamuna River Board's long-term water-sharing goals [1, 2].
“The agreement ends a three-decade impasse over water sharing.”
This agreement resolves a long-standing diplomatic and resource conflict between two major Indian states. By reviving the 1994 pact, the governments are prioritizing infrastructure-led water security over legal disputes, though the massive cost of the pipeline project will require significant fiscal coordination and execution.
