Hathinikund Barrage
– Photo : Dialogue
Expansion
Hathinikund Barrage is a big source of natural water, from where water is distributed among five states for drinking and irrigation. For this, an MoU was signed between the five states in 1994, which is now to be signed again in 2025. Uttarakhand will now be included in this.
The agreement made on 12 May 1994 was between Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan. In this, different quantities of water per year have been fixed for the five states. Delhi uses this water for drinking and irrigation, while the rest of the states use it only for irrigation.
It was also decided in the agreement that water will be given first to the state which uses the water for drinking. Therefore, water is given first to Delhi. After this, the remaining water is given to the remaining four states. Now this agreement will be done after 30 years in 2025. Uttarakhand will also be included in this, because Uttarakhand was not formed till 1994. Every year a total of 11.983 BCM (billion cusec meter) water is distributed among five states. Uttar Pradesh gives water to Uttarakhand from its share. (Dialogue)
These representatives were involved in the agreement
The then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav, the then Chief Minister of Haryana Bhajan Lal, the then Chief Minister of Rajasthan Bhairo Singh Shekhawat, the then Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh and the then Chief Minister of Delhi Madan Lal Khurana were included in the agreement on water sharing in 1994.
Rajasthan wants water separately
Action has to be taken at the highest level regarding the distribution of water from Hathinikund Barrage. At present, Rajasthan wants water separately, for which meetings are going on at the high level. It is expected to move forward after the code of conduct.
-Abhimanyu Singh Rai, Executive Engineer, Upper Section Eastern Yamuna Canal.