Haryana urges Centre to begin work on Renuka dam

The Haryana government on Wednesday requested Union water resources minister Pawan Kumar Bansal to initiate construction of Renuka dam on the Giri river in Himachal Pradesh, besides Lakhwar and Kesao dams on the Yamuna and Tons, respectively.

The Haryana government on Wednesday requested Union water resources minister Pawan Kumar Bansal to initiate construction of Renuka dam on the Giri river in Himachal Pradesh, besides Lakhwar and Kesao dams on the Yamuna and Tons, respectively.

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The dams will help augmentation of water in the Tajewala Barrage and supply water to the western and eastern Yamuna canals.

Nearly 70% areas in Haryana, including Gurgaon, are entirely dependent on the western Yamuna canal for water.

“We have requested the Central government to expedite the proposals of dams which are pending in the water resources ministry for years,” said Krishan Kumar Jalan, financial commissioner and principal secretary, irrigation, Haryana government.

Stating that the state government had paid R25 crore for the construction of Renuka dam, Jalan added, “I’m not sure how many months the ministry will take to start the construction.”

Meanwhile, Rahul Bhandari, personal secretary to Bansal, said, “It’s not right to comment at a time when the PMO has taken cognisance of the matter. Some clear-cut guidelines will be issued by the ministry. Only then will I be able to tell where the matter is pending and why.”