Advertisement
What really powers the cloud? Behind every Google search, A...
A lot of what defines a home isn’t visible at handover. I...
Private equity has played a significant role in shaping Indi...
Luxury real estate is one of the most talked-about segments ...
Airports play a much bigger role than just enabling travel -...
The World Bank has approved a loan of INR 4,000 crore for Haryana’s ‘Jal Sanrakshit Haryana’ programme, a large-scale water conservation and irrigation modernisation initiative with a total project cost of INR 5,714 crore. Scheduled for implementation between 2026 and 2032, the programme will cover 15 clusters spanning 48.94 lakh acres across the state. The project includes rehabilitation of canals and water channels, groundwater recharge measures, micro-irrigation upgrades, reuse of treated wastewater and reclamation of waterlogged land. It also proposes crop diversification and the promotion of water-efficient farming practices. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has directed departments to prepare a comprehensive water management framework, while village-level committees will be established to support implementation and maintenance of water infrastructure across rural areas.
The World Bank has approved a loan of INR 4,000 crore for Haryana’s ‘Jal Sanrakshit Haryana’ project, a comprehensive water management programme aimed at strengthening irrigation infrastructure, improving water conservation and enhancing long-term water security across the state.
The project, with a total estimated cost of INR 5,714 crore, will be implemented in phases between 2026 and 2032. It will cover 15 clusters spread across 48.94 lakh acres, making it one of the largest water resource management initiatives undertaken by the state government.
Reviewing the programme with senior officials in the past week, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini directed departments to prepare a detailed water management plan and ensure effective implementation at the grassroots level. He emphasised the need to maximise the use of treated wastewater, conserve available water resources and establish a digital monitoring system to track water availability and consumption.
As part of the implementation framework, village-level water committees will be formed to participate in the development, operation and maintenance of local water channels. The state government will also create a dedicated fund to support upkeep of these assets and provide financial assistance for maintenance activities.
According to officials, a key component of the programme involves the rehabilitation of the remaining 678 canals across Haryana. Of these, 106 canals will be restored with World Bank assistance at an estimated cost of INR 2,484.87 crore. Another 293 canals will be rehabilitated through state funding amounting to INR 2,230 crore, while 279 canals will be upgraded under projects supported by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
The programme also proposes rehabilitation of 620 water channels, which are expected to benefit approximately 3.18 lakh acres of agricultural land. Additionally, 120 canal-based micro-irrigation projects will be upgraded, extending irrigation coverage to nearly 56,830 acres.
Beyond irrigation infrastructure, the project includes measures to improve agricultural water efficiency and address environmental challenges. Around two lakh acres of waterlogged land will be reclaimed, while direct seeded rice (DSR) cultivation will be promoted across five lakh acres. Crop diversification initiatives are also planned for approximately 1.12 lakh acres to reduce dependence on water-intensive crops.
To improve groundwater recharge, 147 water bodies will be developed across seven districts — Bhiwani, Jind, Kaithal, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Charkhi Dadri and Sirsa. The programme also envisages the reuse of treated wastewater from major sewage treatment plants located in Jind, Kaithal and Dhanwapur in Gurugram for irrigation purposes.
The treated water reuse initiative will cover nearly 28,000 acres and is estimated to cost INR 282.13 crore. Saini said the World Bank had acknowledged Haryana’s efforts in water resource management and described the programme as a major step towards sustainable water use. He added that the state intends to rehabilitate and modernise all canals under the initiative, strengthening irrigation infrastructure while ensuring long-term water availability for agriculture and rural communities.
Source - PTI
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
