Context: Union Home Minister chaired a crucial meeting in New Delhi where a historic consensus was reached among six stakeholder states to implement the long-pending Kishau Multi-Purpose Dam Project.
- The six states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU)
About The Kishau Multi-Purpose Dam:
What It Is?
- The Kishau Multi-Purpose Dam Project is a large-scale, under-construction water infrastructure and hydro-power development venture. It has been designated as a project of national importance aimed at resolving inter-state water sharing issues, generating clean energy, and rejuvenating regional river ecosystems.
Location:
- River and Site: The dam is being constructed across the Tons River, a primary tributary of the Yamuna River. It is situated roughly 39 km (24 mi) north of Dakpathar and upstream of the existing Ichari Dam.
- Geographic Border: The mega-structure physically straddles the geographic border between the two northern Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Aim:
The primary aim of the project is to build an extensive water resource management network that secures downstream drinking water, expands agricultural irrigation across northern India, generates peak-load hydroelectric power, and increases the minimal ecological flow of the Yamuna River to aid its environmental recovery.
Key Features of the Project:
- Engineering Specifications: The design features a massive 236-meter-high concrete gravity dam backed by an estimated financial investment of ₹11,500 crore.
- Reservoir Capacity: The structure will create a massive reservoir holding 1,324 Million Cubic Meters (MCM) of live water storage capacity.
- Power and Energy Generation: The dam houses a hydroelectric power plant rated at 660 Megawatts (MW), which is projected to generate 1,379 Million Units (MU) of clean electricity annually.
- Agricultural Coverage: The storage network provides downstream water release systems capable of supporting the irrigation of 97,076 hectares (239,880 acres) of agricultural crops.
- The 90:10 Funding Framework: Under the newly brokered agreement, the Central Government will fund 90 percent of the project’s water component as a national financial assistance grant, while the six stakeholder states will split the remaining 10 percent.
- Inter-State Power and Water Swaps: To balance out initial project expenses, a unique resource swap was agreed upon: in lieu of sharing the costs of the power component, the water capacity allocated to Himachal Pradesh will be systematically supplied to fulfill the demands of Delhi and Rajasthan.
- Timeline: Initially approved by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2018 after years of negotiation delays, the project is currently scheduled for full completion by 2028.
