Haryana–Rajasthan End 32-Year Water Dispute: Historic Yamuna Water Agreement Signed

A major interstate water dispute that had remained unresolved for 32 years has finally been settled. On 29 June 2026, the governments of Haryana and Rajasthan, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil, signed a landmark agreement to implement the long-pending Yamuna Water Project. The agreement operationalises the 1994 Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) water-sharing pact, enabling Rajasthan to finally receive its allocated share of Yamuna water.

Under the agreement, around 580 million cubic metres (MCM) of Yamuna water will be supplied every year from July to October through three underground pipelines, each over 3.6 metres in diameter. The water will be conveyed from the Western Yamuna Canal/Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana to water-scarce regions of Rajasthan.

The project is expected to provide reliable drinking water to the Rajasthan districts of Sikar, Churu, and Jhunjhunu (the Shekhawati region), while also benefiting Bhiwani and Fatehabad in Haryana. Besides supplying drinking water, the project will help recharge groundwater, improve water management, and support long-term socio-economic development in drought-prone areas.

Speaking after the signing, Amit Shah described the agreement as a "win-win situation" and an example of "Solution through Dialogue" and cooperative federalism. The agreement also clearly defines cost-sharing, water allocation, maintenance responsibilities, monitoring systems, and a dispute-resolution mechanism to prevent future disagreements.

The agreement is being hailed as one of the most significant interstate water settlements in recent years. By ending a dispute that lasted over three decades, it not only strengthens cooperation between Haryana and Rajasthan but also demonstrates how long-pending federal issues can be resolved through dialogue, planning, and coordinated action.