A long-pending financial dispute linked to the Narmada Award was resolved on Wednesday after Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh signed a one-time settlement agreement in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The agreement was signed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil and senior officials from the Centre and the four States were also present.
The agreement marks the settlement of a long-running dispute over pending payments and cost-sharing related to the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam. According to the government, the dues will be cleared through a one-time settlement, bringing an end to decades of financial claims among the beneficiary States.
Addressing the gathering, Union Home Minister said the agreement reflected the Centre’s efforts to strengthen water security and promote cooperative federalism under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said dialogue and cooperation among States had helped resolve several long-pending issues.
Union Home Minister appreciated the cooperation extended by the governments of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in reaching the settlement. He said the Sardar Sarovar project had expanded access to irrigation, drinking water and electricity, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. He added that the availability of Narmada water had improved agricultural prospects in parts of Rajasthan.
The Union Home Minister also said the Centre was working to resolve inter-State water disputes through consensus. Referring to recent developments involving water-sharing issues between Haryana and Rajasthan, as well as the Kishau Dam project, he said such agreements demonstrated the spirit of cooperative federalism.
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, along with the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective States. The settlement is expected to bring closure to a long-standing financial issue related to one of India’s largest river valley projects.
