Five States and Delhi sign Kishau Multipurpose Project agreement for dam on Tons river
On 15 September 2026, the Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi signed the Kishau Multipurpose Project agreement in New Delhi, in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil.
Summary
The Kishau Multipurpose Project will build a 232.6-metre-high concrete gravity dam on the Tons river, a tributary of the Yamuna, along the Uttarakhand–Himachal Pradesh border, with storage of 1,562 million cubic metres. It is to irrigate 97,000 hectares and generate 1,476 million units of hydropower, and Amit Shah said Delhi will be its biggest beneficiary. The project has been declared a national project, with about 90% of the cost borne by the Centre and 10% by the partner states. Amit Shah said the deal builds on a 12 May 1994 agreement that separate agreements would be signed for each storage project in the basin, and called it the tenth water dispute resolved under the Modi government.
Key facts
- Signed
- 15 Sep 2026, New Delhi — UP, Uttarakhand, HP, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi
- Dam
- 232.6 m concrete gravity dam on the Tons (Yamuna tributary), UK–HP border
- Storage
- 1,562 million cubic metres
- Benefits
- 97,000 ha irrigation; 1,476 million units hydropower
- Funding
- National project — Centre ~90%, states ~10%
- Basis
- 12 May 1994 agreement on Upper Yamuna storage projects
Practice MCQs 5 questions
On which river will the dam under the Kishau Multipurpose Project be built?
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Correct answer: A — Tons
The 232.6 m dam will be built on the Tons river along the Uttarakhand–Himachal Pradesh border.
What share of the cost of the Kishau Multipurpose Project will the Centre bear as a national project?
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Correct answer: C — About 90%
About 90% of the financial burden will be borne by the Centre and 10% by the partner states.
According to Amit Shah, which State/UT will be the biggest beneficiary of the Kishau project?
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Correct answer: B — Delhi
Amit Shah said Delhi will be the biggest beneficiary of the project.
What will be the height of the concrete gravity dam under the Kishau Multipurpose Project?
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Correct answer: D — 232.6 m
A 232.6-metre-high concrete gravity dam with 1,562 million cubic metres of storage is planned.
Consider the following about the Kishau Multipurpose Project: 1. The Tons river, on which the dam will be built, is a tributary of the Yamuna. 2. The agreement builds on a 12 May 1994 agreement that separate agreements would be signed for each storage project in the basin. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The Tons is a major Yamuna tributary, and the 1994 agreement provided for project-wise storage agreements.