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New Delhi : Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Shipping and Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari on August 28, 2018, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh – Yogi Adityanath, Rajasthan – Vasundhara Raje , Uttarakhand – Trivendra Singh Rawat, Haryana- Manohar Lal, Delhi – Arvind Kejriwal, and Himachal Pradesh – Jai Ram Thakur, in New Delhi for the construction of Rs 3,966.51 crore Lakhwar Multi-Purpose project in the Upper Yamuna basin.
Extending his gratitude to the Chief Ministers of all six states for mutually consenting to this impending project, Gadkari said that the problem of water shortage in all six states will be resolved once the project is complete as water flow in river Yamuna will improve in dry season from December to May/June every year.
The Lakhwar project was initially approved in 1976 but work on the project was suspended in 1992. The project envisages construction of a 204 m high concrete dam across river Yamuna near village Lohari village Dehradun district of Uttarakhand with a live storage capacity of 330.66 million cubic metre (MCM). This storage will provide irrigation for 33,780 hectare land and availability of 78.83 MCM water for domestic, drinking and industrial use in the six basin states. The project will also generate 300 MW of power. The project is to be executed by M/s Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVL).
Reiterating that the focus is also on removing pollution in River Yamuna under Clean Ganga Mission, Gadkari said that 34 projects are being taken up on the river out of which 12 are in Delhi which will ensure that the water going to Haryana and Rajasthan is Nirmal (clean). While Lakhwar project will provide adequate water to all six states, the interventions being made under Namami Gange programme will ensure pollution reduction in Yamuna serving the twin purpose.
Gadkari said that the problem is not water shortage but water management and the Government is taking steps in this direction. He added that Lakhwar project will not only ensure water availability but also improve irrigation, generate electricity and fulfil the drinking water needs of all six states, according to a PIB release.
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath thanked the central government for reviving this 42-year old project. He said that Lakhwar project will create irrigation potential besides generating electricity. “I thank Gadkariji for bringing all CMs on board and wish that the project will be successful,” he added.
Out of the total Lakhwar project cost of Rs 3966.51 crore, the power component of Rs 1,388.28 crore will be borne totally 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% will be borne by the Centre (Rs 2,320.41 crore) and 10% will be divided between 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%).
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi are the six Upper Yamuna Basin states. Upper Yamuna refers to the stretch of River Yamuna from its origin to the Okhla Barrage in Delhi. The six states had signed a Memorandum of Understanding on May 12, 1994, regarding allocation of surface flow of River Yamuna. The agreement had recognized the need to create storage facilities in Upper Yamuna Basin to conserve and utilize the monsoon flows of the river in a regulated manner.