Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 19: Nearly 29 years after the governments of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to tap monsoon flows from the Renukaji, Kishau, and Lakhwar dams, the ambitious project remains largely on paper. Despite Delhi paying Rs 230.73 crore for the three dams, no substantial work has been undertaken to channel water into the Yamuna and its tributaries, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit has revealed.
The dams, once operational, could meet the capital’s drinking water needs for the next 25 years. The Lakhwar dam alone can supply around 135 MGD, while Renukaji and Kishau could add another 275 MGD and 372 MGD, respectively, ensuring environmental flow in the river and reducing dependence on seasonal inflows.
The Kishau multipurpose project on the Tons river in Uttarakhand is designed as a 236-metre-high dam with 1,324 million cubic metres of live storage but faces prolonged delays due to inter-state disputes and funding issues. The Lakhwar dam, the largest among the three, began construction in 1976 but halted in 1992 due to financial constraints, with only 13 per cent of the work now completed. The Renukaji dam in Himachal Pradesh has entered the tendering stage.
The CAG noted that despite an agreement signed in 2019 for regular water supply from Himachal Pradesh to Delhi, it has not been implemented, as authorities in Himachal claim no surplus water is available from November to June. The audit further highlighted that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) uses its entire daily raw water supply with no reserves, leaving the city vulnerable.
Delhi currently requires 1,260 MGD of water but the DJB supplies only 935 MGD of treated water to 93 per cent of households. The audit covered five years from 2017–18 to 2021–22, including field visits and inspections of water and sewage treatment plants to assess progress.
With approvals from the Upper Yamuna River Board and National Green Tribunal still pending, experts warn that the possibility of augmenting Delhi’s raw water supply in the near future remains remote.