Four states reach agreement on Narmada project

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Jal Shakti CR Patil, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at the signing of the agreement in New Delhi. Credit:

The states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday (July 7, 2026) reached an agreement to settle the outstanding payment issues among the Narmada award recipient states.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Jal Shakti CR Patil. Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), Bhupendra Patel (Gujarat), Bhajan Lal Sharma (Rajasthan) and Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh) signed an agreement regarding the cost-sharing arrangement for the construction of the Sardar Sarovar project.

Live lessons from Narmada

Pursuant to the agreement, the payments to be made to finalize the outstanding charges were settled in a one-time settlement. Mr. Shah said that the issue of outstanding payments under the Narmada award remained outstanding between the four states for a long time and that it was resolved amicably on Tuesday (July 7, 2026).

He said after the completion of the dam, water and electricity have reached all parts of the four states.

He added that while the benefits flowing from Rajasthan may seem modest at first glance, the areas that have received the waters of the Narmada have witnessed a transformation in both land value and farmers’ wealth.

The Union Home Minister said that whether it is Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana or Maharashtra, water ultimately served the people of the country, especially the farmers. No matter in which part of the country the water is used, the ultimate beneficiary will be the Indian, he said.

Published – 7 Jul 2026 22:46 IST