Jaipur: The Rajasthan government has disbursed Rs 53 crore to the Uttarakhand government for the construction of the Lakhwar Dam project, as part of the Yamuna Water Agreement. This announcement was made by state water resources minister Suresh Singh Rawat on Tuesday during his visit to the project site in Uttarakhand.
Rawat inspected the under-construction dam and emphasized that the project is vital for Rajasthan's long-term water security, especially for the water-scarce Shekhawati region. He stated, "The state government has so far released nearly Rs 53 crore to Uttarakhand for the project. This amount is part of Rajasthan's total share of Rs 107 crore."
Project Capacity and Benefits
The Lakhwar Dam project boasts a total storage capacity of 331 million cubic metres (MCM). Upon completion, Rajasthan is expected to receive approximately 30.91 MCM of water under its allocated share, which is likely to significantly enhance water availability in the Shekhawati area. Officials noted that the central government is covering 90% of the water component cost, thereby reducing the financial burden on participating states.
Financial Allocations and Future Plans
Rawat further revealed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) under the Yamuna Water Agreement has already been finalized. He added that the Rajasthan government had earmarked Rs 32,000 crore in the previous state budget for works related to bringing Yamuna water to the Shekhawati belt. "The project is being seen as a major step towards addressing the region's chronic water shortage," Rawat said.
This initiative underscores the collaborative efforts between states and the central government to tackle water scarcity and ensure sustainable water management in arid regions.
