Delhi water security – Bharat Pulse News

Six northern states have signed an agreement to advance the long-pending Kishau Multipurpose Project, clearing a major hurdle over cost-sharing and water allocation. The Centre will bear about 90% of the project cost, with the participating states contributing the remaining share. Six States Sign Kishau Project Agreement The agreement was signed by Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi in the presence of senior Union government representatives. The Kishau project had faced years of delays because of disagreements over financing, water allocation and the burden on states directly affected by the proposed reservoir. The latest agreement is expected to help move the project towards implementation under the Upper Yamuna framework. Centre to Bear 90% of Project Cost The Kishau Multipurpose Project has been designated a national project, allowing the Union government to bear around 90% of the overall financial burden. Himachal Pradesh had raised concerns over having to contribute heavily despite bearing a substantial share of the project’s local impact. The revised arrangement is intended to reduce that financial pressure while distributing responsibilities among the beneficiary states. Kishau Dam to Boost Water and Hydropower The project proposes a 232.6-metre-high concrete gravity dam on the Tons River along the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border. The reservoir is expected to have a storage capacity of about 1,562 million cubic metres and support irrigation across roughly 97,000 hectares. The project is also designed to generate about 1,476 million units of hydropower annually. Delhi is expected to be among the major beneficiaries through improved water availability, while other northern states are set to gain from irrigation, storage and power generation.