The Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said that Haryana would benefit immensely from the Lakhwar multipurpose project on Yamuna river as it would alone be able to utilise a major share of over 47 per cent water.

The remaining 53 per cent water would be distributed among five other basin states. The project would not only help in quenching the thirst of people, especially in southern Haryana, but would also meet the irrigation needs of parched lands.

The CM was interacting with media persons after the Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari, and CM of six basin states signed in New Delhi on Tuesday Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for implementation of the Lakhwar Multi-Purpose project on Yamuna river in Uttarakhand.

Besides, Gadkari, the MoU was signed by the Haryana CM, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, CM Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje, CM Uttarakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, and CM of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur.

Khattar said the Lakhwar multi-purpose project which was pending for the last 42 years, would now take off with the signing of the MoU by six states.

The project would not only help in resolving various inter-state water issues but would also meet the water needs of the people of Haryana, especially in south Haryana. Besides, it would also help in redressing the problem of shortage of drinking water in the affected areas of the state during the summers, he added.

“I myself visited Lakhwar Dam two years ago and also discussed the issue with the then Union minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Uma Bharti”, said the Haryana CM, adding that he was assured that the issue would be resolved soon.

Today, it is matter of happiness that CMs of six basin states have signed an MoU for implementation of the project, he said.

In reply to a question, Khattar said efforts were being made to achieve consensus on other inter-state water issues.

Extending his gratitude to the CMs of all six States for mutually consenting to this impending project, Union Minister Gadkari said that the problem of water shortage in all six states would be resolved once the project is complete as water flow in River Yamuna would improve in dry season from December to May and June every year.

He hoped that more such projects, especially the ones which are stuck for several years due to lack of consensus amongst states, would take off.