Centre signs MoU with Haryana and 5 states for Lakhwar multipurpose project

Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Mr Nitin Gadkari, and Chief Ministers of six basin states (Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand,Delhi,Himachal Pradesh) signed in New Delhi, a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for implementation of the Lakhwar Multi-Purpose project on Yamuna river in Uttarakhand.

Facts :

• The Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal, said that Haryana would benefit immensely from the Lakhwar Multi-Purpose project on Yamuna river as it would alone be able to utilize a major share of over 47 per cent water.The remaining 53 per cent water would be distributed among five other basin states.
• The Lakhwar multi-purpose project which was pending for the last 42 years, would now take off with the signing of the MOU by six states.
• The Lakhwar project envisages construction of a 204-meter -high concrete dam across Yamuna near Lohari village in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand with a live storage capacity of 330.66 Million Cubic Metres (MCM).
• This storage will provide irrigation for 33,780 hectares of land and availability of 78.83 MCM water for domestic, drinking and industrial use in the six basin states.
• Besides, it will also generate 300 MW of power.
• The project is to be executed by M/s Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVL). Out of the total project cost of Rs. 3,966.51 crore, the power component of Rs. 1,388.28 crore will be borne entirely by the Uttarakhand Government. Uttarakhand will also get the benefit of total power generation once the project is complete.
• Out of the remaining cost of Rs. 2,578.23 crore which form the irrigation and drinking water components, 90 per cent will be borne by the Centre (Rs. 2320.41 crore) and 10 per cent will be divided among the states of Haryana-Rs.123.29 crore (47.82%), Uttar Pradesh/ Uttarakhand -Rs. 86.75 crore (33.65%), Rajasthan-Rs. 24.08 crore (9.34%), NCT Delhi -Rs. 15.58 crore (6.04%), and Himachal Pradesh -Rs. 8.13 crore (3.15%).
• Storage created as a result of implementation of Lakhwar project will be shared by the basin states in proportion to their overall annual allocations as given in the mother MoU signed between the six states on May 12, 1994.
• Except for sharing of the stored water, all other resultant economic benefits, including generation of hydropower due to construction of the dam, are assigned to Uttarakhand.

Analysis :

• The problem of water shortage in all six States would be resolved once the project is complete as water flow in River Yamuna would improve in dry season from December to May/June every year.
• The problem is not water shortage but water management and the Government is taking steps in this direction.
• The Lakhwar project would not only ensure water availability but also improve irrigation, generate electricity and fulfill the drinking water needs of all six States during the summers.
• The project would not only help in quenching the thirst of people, especially in southern Haryana, but would also meet the irrigation needs of parched lands.
• The project would not only help in resolving various inter-state water issues but would also meet the water needs of the people of Haryana, especially in south Haryana.
• This project has paved the way for the other issue pertaining to water, which would also be resolved through mutual consent between the states.

By: Harman Sandhu