Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan on Wednesday welcomed the long-awaited agreement on the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project in Himachal Pradesh, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for breaking a years-long deadlock on the inter-state water project.

A Multi-State Consensus, Years in the Making

The agreement, reached at a meeting chaired by Home Minister Shah, brings together six states — Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan — on a project that had remained stalled for years. Mahajan described the consensus as 'a significant milestone,' adding that it would 'not only boost the rejuvenation of the Yamuna river but also open new avenues for water conservation, energy generation and regional development.'

The former state Cabinet minister called the agreement a textbook example of the Centre's 'solution-through-dialogue' approach, crediting the Modi government's facilitation for making the breakthrough possible.

Centre to Bear 90% of Water Component Cost

A key financial detail underpinning the deal is the Centre's decision to bear 90 per cent of the cost associated with the water component of the project. Mahajan said this reflects 'the Central government's serious dedication, under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, to the development and public welfare of all states, including Himachal Pradesh.'

The financial commitment is significant given the scale of a multipurpose dam project that spans multiple state jurisdictions and involves complex cost-sharing negotiations.

BJP Targets Congress Over Credit Claim

Mahajan, who previously switched loyalties to the BJP, took direct aim at the ruling Indian National Congress (Congress) in Himachal Pradesh, accusing its leaders of attempting to claim credit for the agreement. 'It's unfortunate that Congress leaders are attempting to claim credit for this historic decision, whereas the reality is that advancing this project, stalled for years, has been made possible solely through the initiative and leadership of the Central government,' he said.

He urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu and Congress leaders to welcome the decision 'in the interest of the state and the nation, rather than seeking political gain.'

Expected Impact on Himachal Pradesh and Yamuna

The former Fisheries Minister expressed confidence that the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project would deliver long-term benefits for Himachal Pradesh and play a 'pivotal role' in achieving the goal of a clean, rejuvenated Yamuna. The project is expected to contribute to water conservation, power generation, and broader regional development across the participating states.

This comes amid growing national focus on river rejuvenation and inter-state water management, with the Yamuna's ecological health having been a persistent policy concern for successive governments. The implementation timeline and project-specific details are yet to be formally announced by the Centre.