In a major development aimed at resolving Rajasthan's water scarcity, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil met Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar to discuss bringing Yamuna water to the parched districts of Jhunjhunu, Sikar, and Churu — areas that include the Vice President’s own hometown.

Under the 1994 Yamuna Water Agreement, Rajasthan was allotted 1119 million cubic meters (MCM) of Yamuna water annually. However, the state has not received its share due to the lack of transportation infrastructure from the Hathinikund Barrage in Haryana.

Now, after decades of delay, momentum has picked up:

• A MoU was signed in February 2025 between the Rajasthan and Haryana governments and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Two task force meetings have already been held — on April 7 in Yamunanagar and April 25 in Palwal.
• A consultant will soon be appointed to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for an underground pipeline.

This historic initiative aims to resolve the chronic drinking water crisis and support agriculture in the semi-arid Shekhawati belt. With VP Dhankhar championing the cause, the project has received renewed urgency and attention.

• Farmers in Jhunjhunu, especially in areas like Chidawa, have been holding sit-in protests demanding Yamuna water.
• The pipeline project, once completed, will bring monsoon water from Hathinikund into Rajasthan during July to October, using an allocation of 1917 cusecs (577 MCM).

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has been a persistent voice for his region’s development. His involvement has significantly strengthened the push for actual implementation, which had remained stalled for over two decades.

If executed, this pipeline will not only fulfill a long-standing agreement but also transform lives in some of Rajasthan’s driest districts, making it a game-changing project for water security and rural livelihoods.

The successful completion of this project could serve as a model for inter-state cooperation and long-overdue execution of national water-sharing agreements.