📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Shivanjan
National
Haryana Secures Water Allocation Under Kishau Pact, Himachal Pradesh Saves ₹2,000 Crore
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 16 Sep 2026, 01:01 AM
👁 7
The Kishau water-sharing agreement grants Haryana additional water while allowing Himachal Pradesh to avoid a ₹2,000‑crore expenditure on a new reservoir.
New Delhi has formalised the Kishau water‑sharing pact between Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Under the agreement, Haryana will receive a defined volume of water from the Kishau reservoir, addressing long‑standing shortages in the state’s irrigation and drinking‑water schemes.
Himachal Pradesh, which had been planning a costly new reservoir to meet its own water needs, will now forgo the project, saving an estimated ₹2,000 crore in capital outlay. The saved funds are expected to be redirected to other developmental priorities within the state.
Both state governments hailed the deal as a win‑win, emphasizing cooperative federalism and the efficient use of existing water infrastructure. The pact also includes provisions for regular monitoring and joint management to ensure sustainable utilisation of the shared resource.
Implementation is slated to begin in the upcoming monsoon season, with technical teams from both states coordinating on water release schedules and maintenance of the Kishau dam.
The agreement reflects a broader trend of inter‑state collaborations aimed at optimising water resources amid growing demand across northern India.
Himachal Pradesh, which had been planning a costly new reservoir to meet its own water needs, will now forgo the project, saving an estimated ₹2,000 crore in capital outlay. The saved funds are expected to be redirected to other developmental priorities within the state.
Both state governments hailed the deal as a win‑win, emphasizing cooperative federalism and the efficient use of existing water infrastructure. The pact also includes provisions for regular monitoring and joint management to ensure sustainable utilisation of the shared resource.
Implementation is slated to begin in the upcoming monsoon season, with technical teams from both states coordinating on water release schedules and maintenance of the Kishau dam.
The agreement reflects a broader trend of inter‑state collaborations aimed at optimising water resources amid growing demand across northern India.