Chief Minister Rekha Gupta says Delhi will receive an additional 109.9 MCM of water, while the flow of the Yamuna will also improve
New Delhi, September 2026 : The Delhi Cabinet has passed a resolution expressing its gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C. R. Patil following the important agreement on the Kishau Multipurpose Project. At a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta on Tuesday, the project was described as a solution to a long-pending issue. The Cabinet also appreciated the cooperation extended by the Central Government and the states concerned. The Chief Minister said the agreement would enable Delhi to receive 109.9 million cubic metres (MCM) of water, providing significant support in meeting the capital’s drinking water requirements. It would also help improve the environmental flow of the Yamuna.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said water shortage was one of Delhi’s major challenges. The progress of the Kishau project would strengthen Delhi’s water security and make additional raw water available to the capital during periods of low water availability. She said the significance of the project extended beyond the additional water allocated to Delhi. It would also help improve the environmental flow of the Yamuna, which is important for the river’s rejuvenation and environmental conservation.
Chief Minister Thanks Participating States
On behalf of Delhi’s 2.5 crore residents, the Chief Minister expressed her gratitude to Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C. R. Patil for the important agreement. She also thanked the governments of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan for their cooperation in advancing the Kishau project.
She said that under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the Central Government was resolving long-pending issues through dialogue and the consent of the states. The Kishau project, she added, was another example of this collaborative approach.
Project to Provide Long-Term Support for Delhi’s Water Needs
The Chief Minister said the Kishau Multipurpose Project was one of the important water storage projects in the Upper Yamuna Basin. The project, which will be built on the Tons river, will have a useful water storage capacity of approximately 1,324 MCM. Water available during the monsoon can be stored and released in a regulated manner as required. This will help ensure better water availability for the states in the Upper Yamuna Basin.
The Chief Minister said the project was important for Delhi in view of the capital’s future water requirements. The availability of additional water will provide a stronger foundation for drinking water supply and strengthen the capital’s water security over the long term. It will also support the Delhi Government’s efforts towards groundwater recharge and water conservation.
Important Role in Yamuna Rejuvenation
The Chief Minister said that an important aspect of the Kishau project was its role in improving the required flow of the Yamuna. Adequate flow is essential for the river’s environmental health. The Delhi Government is working at various levels to make the Yamuna clean and pristine, and the benefits of the Kishau project will further strengthen these efforts. She said the project was important not only for drinking water, irrigation and hydropower generation, but also for improving the environmental flow of the Yamuna. The consensus among the six states has cleared the way for the long-pending project to move forward. An understanding on the project was reached among the six states at a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in June. This understanding has now been formally recorded in an agreement.
