An agreement for the long-pending Kishau Multipurpose Project was signed on Tuesday in New Delhi, with the project expected to strengthen water security in Rajasthan’s water-scarce Shekhawati region. The MoU was signed by six participating states at a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and the chief ministers of the other participating states signed the agreement.

The Kishau project is proposed on the Tons River, a major tributary of the Yamuna, along the border of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. With an estimated cost of around Rs 15,000 crore, the multipurpose project is expected to generate 660 MW of hydroelectric power and benefit Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Under the revised arrangement, part of Himachal Pradesh’s allocated water share will be made available to Rajasthan and Delhi.

For Rajasthan, the project is expected to have particular significance for Sikar, Churu and Jhunjhunu in Shekhawati. About 124 million cubic metres of water allocated to Rajasthan from the Kishau Dam is proposed to be conveyed to Churu through Haryana’s Hansi-Butana system using three underground pipeline systems. The water is intended to meet drinking water and other requirements in Churu, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and surrounding areas.

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The revised arrangement also sets out the financial responsibilities of the participating states. The Centre will provide 90 per cent of the cost of the water component as assistance, while the states will contribute the remaining 10 per cent. In return for the water allocation, the concerned states will contribute towards the cost of the power component associated with Himachal Pradesh. The Government of India has included the Kishau Dam Project in the list of National Projects, while construction, operation and maintenance will be undertaken by Kishau Corporation Limited.

The Kishau agreement builds on efforts under the Yamuna Water Agreement to improve Rajasthan’s access to its allocated water resources. Under the 1994 agreement signed by five states, Rajasthan was allocated 1,917 cusecs, equivalent to 577 MCM, from the Tajewala Head during the monsoon season. However, the state could not receive its allocated share for 32 years because the required water-conveyance infrastructure was not in place.

The additional water infrastructure is expected to strengthen long-term water security in Shekhawati and support drinking water, irrigation and other beneficial uses. The state government is also pursuing initiatives involving connectivity, tourism, heritage conservation and air connectivity in the region. Together with improved water availability, these measures are expected to support employment, investment, economic growth and broader development across Shekhawati.

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