Jaipur : In a landmark move aimed at addressing Rajasthan’s long-standing water scarcity, Rajasthan and Haryana on Monday signed a historic agreement for the sharing and transportation of Yamuna River water. The pact is expected to provide Rajasthan with 1,917 cusecs of water through a 295-kilometre underground pipeline, significantly boosting drinking water supply, irrigation, and industrial development in the state’s semi-arid Shekhawati region.
The agreement was signed at Kartavya Bhawan-3 in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.
The agreement marks the long-awaited implementation of the 1994 Upper Yamuna River Board water-sharing arrangement, which remained dormant for over three decades due to the absence of a suitable canal or pipeline network to transport Rajasthan’s allocated share of Yamuna water.
Massive Infrastructure Project
As part of the agreement, the two states will jointly develop the infrastructure required to transport water from the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana to Rajasthan through an underground pipeline stretching nearly 295 kilometres. The pipeline component alone is estimated to cost ₹3,900 crore, while the overall project cost is expected to reach ₹33,779 crore.
Instead of establishing a joint board as initially proposed, Rajasthan and Haryana have agreed to create a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will oversee the construction, operation, and maintenance of the project. Rajasthan will initially bear the entire financial responsibility, although the state government plans to seek financial assistance from the Centre.
Officials also noted that the same pipeline network could eventually transport Rajasthan’s future water allocations from the proposed Kishau, Lakhwar, and Renukaji dam projects in the Upper Yamuna Basin.
Lifeline for Water-Starved Shekhawati
The project is expected to become a game-changer for the water-deficient districts of Sikar, Churu, and Jhunjhunu, where residents have struggled with drinking water shortages and declining groundwater levels for decades.
Once completed, the pipeline will supply Yamuna water directly to towns and villages across the region, reducing dependence on groundwater while supporting agricultural expansion, industrial growth, and overall regional development.
Political Significance
Apart from its developmental importance, the project also carries significant political implications. The BJP government views the Yamuna Water Project as one of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s flagship initiatives, pursued consistently over the past two-and-a-half years.
Political observers believe the project could strengthen the BJP’s electoral prospects in the Shekhawati region—traditionally considered a challenging political terrain for the party—ahead of upcoming panchayat and local body elections. However, any delay in implementation could provide the opposition with an opportunity to question the government’s performance.
Engineering Challenges Ahead
The ambitious project will employ a modern hybrid water transport system. Since there is an elevation difference of nearly 110 metres between the Hathnikund Barrage and Rajgarh in Churu district, water is expected to flow naturally through gravity along most of the route. Advanced pumping stations will be installed at strategic locations to ensure uninterrupted water supply during periods of low flow.
Implementation, however, poses significant engineering and administrative challenges. Nearly 95 per cent of the pipeline route lies within Haryana, making land acquisition, inter-state coordination, and timely execution critical to the project’s success.
Marathon Negotiations Paved the Way
The breakthrough followed an intensive two-hour meeting held on Sunday at Bikaner House in New Delhi, where senior officials from both states finalized the project’s financial framework, water distribution mechanism, construction strategy, and operational responsibilities.
The pipeline will traverse Haryana’s Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, and Hisar districts before entering Rajasthan. Haryana has also secured approval to draw a specified quantity of water for its own use from designated points along the route.
Long Journey to Reality
The Yamuna water-sharing arrangement dates back to 1994, when Rajasthan was allocated a share of the river’s waters under the Upper Yamuna River Board agreement. In 2001, authorities identified the Hathnikund Barrage as the source for Rajasthan’s allocation.
Serious planning for transporting the water through a dedicated pipeline began in 2018, followed by the preparation of a Detailed Project Report after a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement between the Centre, Rajasthan, and Haryana was signed on February 17, 2024.
With the final agreement now signed in 2026, the decades-old vision of bringing Yamuna water to Rajasthan’s drought-prone Shekhawati region has finally moved from planning to implementation, promising a new chapter in the state’s water security and economic development.
