The States of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh reached an agreement on Tuesday (July 7, 2026) on the settlement of pending payment issues among the Narmada Award beneficiary States.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil. Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), Bhupendra Patel (Gujarat), Bhajan Lal Sharma (Rajasthan) and Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh) signed the agreement, which relates to the cost-sharing arrangements for the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Project.

Living lessons from the Narmada

Under the agreement, the payments to be made towards the final settlement of pending dues have been resolved through a one-time settlement. Mr. Shah said that the issue of pending payments under the Narmada Award had remained unresolved among the four States for a long time, and that it had been resolved amicably on Tuesday (July 7, 2026).

He said that with the completion of the dam, water and electricity have reached every part of the four States.

He added that while the benefits accruing to Rajasthan may appear modest at first glance, the areas that have received Narmada waters have witnessed a transformation in both the value of the land and the fortunes of the farmers.

The Union Home Minister said that whether it is Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana or Maharashtra, the water ultimately served the people of the country, especially the farmers. Regardless of which part of the country the water is utilised in, the ultimate beneficiary will be an Indian, he said.