Govt clears ₹908-cr for Renukaji multipurpose dam

The CMs of six states: Delhi, Haryana, UP, Uttrakhand, HP and Rajasthan have inked an agreement with the Union Minister of Water Resources & River Development, Nitin Gadkari, the construction of Renukaji Multipurpose Dam on the Giri River to meet the drinking water needs of these states. The centre has approved ₹908 crore to launch the mega dam project in Sirmour district of Himachal. The dam is conceptualized as a three-way project to be constructed along the Yamuna and two of its tributaries, Tons and Giri. The project, in which Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are directly involved, was conceived in 2008. Most of irrigation cost and the drinking water component will be funded by the central government and the six beneficiary states would chip in 10 percent of the investment. The project envisages construction of 148-metre high rock-filled dam for supplying 23 cum/sec water to Delhi and other basin states. The project will also generate 40 megawatt of power during peak flow. After construction of the dam, the flow of river Giri will increase by about 110 percent, and meet the drinking water requirements of Delhi and other basin states to some extent, said official sources.