The governments of Rajasthan and Haryana signed a crucial agreement on Monday regarding the construction and implementation of the Yamuna Water Project, which will resolve a three-decade-old water issue in both states. The Ministry of Home Affairs said on Monday that the occasion was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and senior officials of the central and state governments.

Mr. Shah said that this agreement has resolved the nearly three-decade-old water issue of the people of Haryana and Rajasthan. He stated that this agreement is an excellent example of the mantra of cooperative federalism and proves that if states move forward with the idea of cooperative federalism, even a three-decade-old problem can be easily resolved.

He said that under this agreement, approximately 580 cubic meters of water will be supplied to Rajasthan from July to October through three underground pipelines from the Yamuna canal. The diameter of these three pipelines is more than 3.6 meters, which will provide drinking water to the people of Rajasthan and Haryana. He stated that this agreement is a win-win deal for both states, with careful consideration of financial responsibility, cost-sharing, water distribution, and protocols for water release and maintenance.

This scientifically comprehensive agreement also includes the operation, maintenance, monitoring system, transparency measures, and dispute resolution mechanisms of the basic infrastructure in a very good way. The objective of this project is to supply water to Rajasthan through an underground pipeline from the Western Yamuna Canal. This will enable the state to properly utilize the surface water allocated to it under the 1994 agreement on the distribution of usable surface water in the Upper Yamuna Basin.

The project will ensure a continuous supply of drinking water in the dry and low-rainfall areas of Rajasthan, promoting social and economic development, benefiting millions of people. This agreement will lay the foundation for the timely implementation of the project through the joint efforts of the central government and the state governments involved in the agreement.

The Union Home Minister said that the draft of this agreement prepared by Haryana, Rajasthan, and especially the Central Water Commission will remain a non-controversial agreement for many decades to come. He stated that under the chairmanship of Union Minister of Jal Shakti Mr. Shekhawat, the solution to this problem was found in just a few days. After this agreement, arrangements will also be made to supply drinking water to the areas of Bhiwani and Fatehabad in Haryana, along with Sikar, Churu, and Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan.

Mr. Shah said that this agreement will greatly help in resolving the drinking water problem in Rajasthan and Haryana, especially Rajasthan. He stated that the water that was not being utilized will now be used to quench people's thirst and increase the groundwater level by accumulating in large reservoirs. The Home Minister said that Haryana, Rajasthan, and the Ministry of Jal Shakti have truly implemented the central government's message of cooperative federalism.