Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Shipping and Road Transport & Highways, on January 11, 2019, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh – Yogi Adityanath, Rajasthan –Ashok Gehlot, Uttarakhand – Trivendra Singh Rawat, Haryana- Manohar Lal, Delhi – Arvind Kejriwal, and Himachal Pradesh – Jai Ram Thakur, in New Delhi for the construction of Renukaji Multi-Purpose Dam project in the Upper Yamuna Basin.
Gadkari also presided over the ceremony of signing of concession agreement for Namami Gange projects in Prayagraj under Hybrid Annuity Mode and One-City-One-Operator concept. The agreement was signed by Akhil Kumar from National Mission for Clean Ganga, Anil Kumar Srivastava from UP Jal Nigam, and Dilip Pormal from Prayagraj Water Pvt. Ltd.
Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said that there is enough water available in the country but the real issue is effective water management. Terming the signing of agreement for Renukaji Dam project a historic moment, he said that the government will try to get the Cabinet approval as soon as possible. He added that a consensus on Kishau Multi Purpose project on River Yamuna has also been developed and soon an agreement for it will also be signed. He also informed about the Lakhwar Multi Purpose project for which agreement was signed on August 28, 2018, among six basin states.
Extending his gratitude to all Chief Ministers, Gadkari said that these projects will benefit all basin states and it is a win-win situation for everyone. He added that these projects will also ensure more flow in river Yamuna which is the need-of-the-hour. During the event, documentaries on Renukaji Multi Purpose Dam project and Namami Gange projects in Prayagraj were shown.
Renukaji Dam project has been conceived as a storage project on Giri River (tributary of river Yamuna) in Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh. The project envisages construction of 148 M high rock filled dam for supply of 23 cumec water to Delhi and other basin states. The project will also generate 40 MW of power during peak flow. The project is proposed to be executed by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. (HPPCL).
After the construction of the dam, the flow of river Giri will increase about 110% which will meet the drinking water needs of Delhi & other basin states up to some extent in lean period. Stored water of Renukaji Dam will be used by UP, Haryana & NCT of Delhi from Hathnikund Barrage, by NCT of Delhi from Wazirabad Barrage and by UP, Haryana and Rajasthan from Okhla Barrage.
Renukaji Dam project is part of three storage projects, which are proposed to be constructed on the river Yamuna and two of its tributaries – Tons and Giri – in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh of Upper Yamuna Basin. The other two include Lakhwar project on River Yamuna and Kishau project on River Tons, according to a PIB release.