The issue of asset division between Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh has not been completed despite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments being in power in the two states and the Centre.
In December 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during campaigning for the state assembly elections, said Uttarakhand will get the benefit of double engine growth if it people elected the BJP in both the states.
It was perceived that after the formation of the BJP governments in the two states, the issue of asset division will be solved.
On November 1, the government declared that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be signed between the two states over the Jamrani dam.
But now the MoU has been put on hold due to the local body elections that will begin in Uttar Pradesh from November 22.
The issue has been pending for the last three decades and people and activists have been demanding the dam be only constructed after ensuring that drinking water, water for irrigation and 14 MW of electricity.
There is a water sharing agreement between Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand but it has been pending due to disputes over cost and water sharing issues.
{{/usCountry}}There is a water sharing agreement between Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand but it has been pending due to disputes over cost and water sharing issues.
{{/usCountry}}Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s father, Anand Singh Bisht, who lives in Pauri district, recently, said that this is the best time for solving the division of assets between the two states as “his son could settle the disputes”.
A lasting solution, however, is still not in sight as Uttar Pradesh has laid claims on the dams and barrages in Banbasa, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar.
State finance minister Prakash Pant, who has been pursuing the issue of asset division between the two states, said the process is on and there will be no injustice to Utttarakhand.
“The final decision is yet to be taken and talks have been held between the chief ministers of the two states as well as the secretaries,” he said.
“The Jamrani dam issue has almost been solved and it will become a reality in the near future.”