Decades-Old Kishau Project Gets Decisive Momentum Under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Leadership
- Historic MoU on Kishau Project Signed by Six States Under the Chairmanship of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah
New Delhi: In a crucial meeting chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah at Kartavya Bhawan, New Delhi, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi regarding the implementation of the long-pending Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project. Anticipated for nearly eight decades, this agreement for the project is a historic and decisive step toward water security, energy, irrigation, drinking water, and the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River.
Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that today’s occasion is not merely an event for signing an agreement, but a historic step forward in bringing the nearly eight-decade-old Kishau Project to fruition. On behalf of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, he expressed gratitude to the Government of India and all participating state governments.
The Chief Minister noted that the Kishau Project was conceptualized back in 1940. Over such a long period, numerous attempts were made to advance the project, but due to various reasons, it could not move forward. Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, important projects that have been pending for decades are being accelerated.
Expressing special gratitude to Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah, the Chief Minister said that under his guidance, the meeting held on June 16, 2026, paved the way for resolving many critical hurdles associated with the Kishau Project. Following this, continuous coordination between the central and participating state governments led to significant progress in advancing the project, which has now been formalized today with the signing of the MoU.
Multipurpose Project of National Importance
The Chief Minister stated that the Kishau Project is not just a regular dam project, but a multipurpose project of national importance linked to water security, energy, irrigation, drinking water, and the rejuvenation of the Yamuna.
He stated that the project will create a massive reservoir with a capacity of approximately 1562 MCM and develop a power generation capacity of 422 megawatts. Its benefits will extend to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, as well as the entire upper Yamuna basin including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the Kishau Project is not confined to a single state or region; rather, it is a significant example of interstate cooperation and cooperative federalism. Through the collective efforts of the central and state governments and better coordination among participating states, this decades-old project has now received decisive momentum.
Rehabilitation of Affected Families is the Top Priority
The Chief Minister acknowledged that certain significant challenges will arise during the construction of the project. Ensuring appropriate, sensitive, and dignified rehabilitation of the families affected by the project is the top priority of the Government of Uttarakhand.
He noted that it is essential to safeguard the interests of affected families alongside development projects, and the state government will work with utmost sensitivity in this direction.
Providing Land for Compensatory Afforestation is a Challenge
The Chief Minister stated that approximately 2500 hectares of forest land will need to be transferred for the project, which will consequently require a large quantity of land for compensatory afforestation.
He pointed out that for a heavily forested and hilly state like Uttarakhand, providing such a large amount of land is a major challenge. Therefore, he requested the Government of India and all participating states to assist Uttarakhand in identifying the land required for compensatory afforestation.
The Chief Minister affirmed that Uttarakhand is committed to maintaining a balance between environmental conservation and development, and all environmental and forest-related provisions concerning the project will be complied with in accordance with the rules.
Time-Bound Implementation with “Resolution Without Alternative”
Expressing confidence, the Chief Minister stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah, all participating states will succeed in fulfilling their “resolution without alternative” to implement the Kishau Project in a time-bound manner.
He stated that today’s MoU signing is not just a formality, but a historic milestone in launching an important project whose benefits will reach future generations.
The Chief Minister stated that the implementation of the Kishau Project will give new momentum to water availability, irrigation, drinking water, energy production, and the rejuvenation of the Yamuna, providing long-term development benefits to the states of the upper Yamuna basin.
The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah, Union Minister for Jal Shakti Shri C. R. Patil, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Delhi Smt. Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Rajasthan Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Nayab Singh Saini, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, as well as union ministers, participating state governments, and senior officials present at the event.
