Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Shipping and Road Transport & Highways signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of Renukaji Multi-Purpose Dam project in the Upper Yamuna Basin.
Shri Gadkari also presided over the ceremony of signing of concession agreement for Namami Gange projects in Prayagraj under Hybrid Annuity Mode and One-City-One-Operator concept.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Gadkari said that there is enough water available in the country but the real issue is effective water management. Terming the signing of Agreement for Renukaji Dam project a historic moment, he said that the government will try to get the Cabinet approval as soon as possible.
Extending his gratitude to all Chief Ministers, Shri Gadkari said that these projects will benefit all basin states and it is a win-win situation for everyone. He added that these projects will also ensure more flow in River Yamuna which is the need-of-the-hour.
Renukaji Dam project has been conceived as a storage project on Giri River (tributary of river Yamuna) in Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh. The project envisages construction of 148 metre high rock filled dam for supply of 23 cumec water to Delhi and other basin states. The project will also generate 40 MW of power during peak flow.
The project is to be executed by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. (HPPCL). The live storage of Renukaji MPP is 0.404 MAF and total submergence area is about 1508 hectares in the territory of HP.
After the construction of the dam, the flow of river Giri will increase about 110% which will meet the drinking water needs of Delhi & other basin states up to some extent in lean period. Stored water of Renukaji Dam will be used by UP, Haryana & NCT of Delhi from Hathnikund Barrage, by NCT of Delhi from Wazirabad Barrage and by UP, Haryana and Rajasthan from Okhla Barrage.
Investigation works in respect of Renukaji dam project was started in 1976. But, due to some unavoidable reasons, the construction works could not be started.
All the mandatory clearances in respect of Renukaji dam project except Stage-II forest clearance, invest clearance and approval from CCEA have been obtained.
Renukaji Dam project is part of three storage projects which are proposed to be constructed on the river Yamuna and two of its tributaries – Tons and Giri in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh of Upper Yamuna Basin. The other two include Lakhwar project on River Yamuna and Kishau project on River Tons.
These three projects were identified as National Projects in 2008 under which 90% funding of the cost of irrigation & drinking water component will be provided by the Govt. of India as central assistance and the rest 10% cost of the irrigation and drinking water component will be borne by the beneficiary states.
Signing of concession Agreement for Namami Gange projects in Prayagraj
Shri Nitin Gadkari, also presided over the ceremony of signing of concession Agreement for Namami Gange projects in Prayagraj.
The trans-Ganga/Yamuna areas in Prayagraj (namely Naini, Phaphamau &Jhunsi) currently do not have any sewage treatment facility and thereby pollute rivers Ganga and Yamuna.
Prayagraj town already has a comprehensive sewerage network and sewage treatment facilities. However, these are with different operators and without long term sustainable mechanism for Operation and Maintenance (O&M).
Accordingly, two projects have been sanctioned for sewage management in the trans-Ganga/Yamuna areas and O&M of existing sewerage assets costing Rs. 908.16 crore.
These projects will lead to creation of I&D network and 3 STPs of total capacity 72 MLD (Naini – 42 MLD, Phaphamau – 14 MLD and Jhunsi – 16 MLD) and O&M of all the sewerage assets for 15 years. These two projects are under One City One Operator concept for implementation on Hybrid Annuity based PPP mode for the sewerage management of the town in sustainable and accountable manner and improve governance.
