HP signs agreement with Delhi government for selling Yamuna water
KI Singh/ royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh
The agreement for sale of share of Yamuna river water of Himachal Pradesh to the Delhi government was signed at New Delhi between the two governments.
The agreement was signed between Secretary, Irrigation and Public Health Dr. RN Batta , and Manisha Saxena, Principal Secretary (Urban Development). Delhi Jal Board CEO Nikhil Kumar, member (water) were also present.
Dr. RN Batta revealed that as per a multi-state agreement signed in 1994, Himachal Pradesh gets three percent share of Yamuna water. This share remained unclaimed since 1994. It was on the request of Delhi government that Himachal cabinet decided to sell share of Himachal Pradesh to Delhi. As a result, Himachal government will get Rs. 21 crore per annum.
“HP signs agreement with Delhi government for selling Yamuna water and that it is for the first time in the country that such an agreement has been signed between two states.There are places in Himachal where there is a lot of snowfall and we are also exploring the opportunities of snow harvesting for the first time,” said Batta.
Calling the pact “historic”, the Delhi government issued a statement saying that under the memorandum of understanding, “Himachal Pradesh will provide regular, daily supply of 368 cusecs from November to February and 268 cusecs from March to June every year. Further, after the creation of the upstream storages the supply shall be upgraded to 421 cusecs throughout the year.”
Earlier in a meeting chaired by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in the month beginning , the state cabinet gave its consent to signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) to sell the Yamuna water from the state’s share at Tajewala corridor
