Jaipur: Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Tuesday demanded full disclosure of the recently signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) concerning the Yamuna water project with Haryana a day earlier.Speaking to the media, Gehlot emphasised that the people of Rajasthan have the right to know the terms of any agreement that affects the state’s water interests. “If Yamuna water reaches Rajasthan, no one will be happier than the people of the state. If the 1994 Upper Yamuna Agreement is finally implemented after three decades, it will be a historic achievement and a major relief for Churu, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and the entire Shekhawati region,” he said, adding that he was more interested in seeing the project implemented than debating whether it was an MoU or an MoA.On Monday, the Rajasthan and Haryana govts signed the MoA for the Yamuna water project in a ceremony attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. Gehlot welcomed Shah’s involvement in resolving interstate water disputes but stressed that the Centre’s efforts would only be meaningful if Rajasthan received its long-overdue 0.8 million acre-feet (MAF) share of water from Punjab, as stipulated in the 1985 Rajiv-Longowal Accord.“This water is part of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project. If Rajasthan gets its rightful share, farmers in Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner and Jaisalmer will benefit immensely,” he added. Gehlot also called for the timely delivery of the state’s constitutional share of drinking water through the Bhakra Canal, Gang Canal, and Indira Gandhi Canal.Attacking the current BJP govt, Gehlot alleged that poor management of the canal network has led to disruptions in water supply, stating that residents in Jodhpur are still grappling with drinking water shortages despite the release of canal water. He contrasted this with his own administration, highlighting the coordination he maintained with successive Punjab govts, including those led by former CMs Parkash Singh Badal and Capt Amarinder Singh, to prevent water shortages for Rajasthan’s farmers.
