Chandigarh: The World Bank has approved technical and financial assistance of Rs. 5,700 crore for the Jal Sanrakshit Haryana Project.
The project aims to make Haryana self-reliant in the water sector and strengthen long-term water security across the state.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini chaired a review meeting of officials in Chandigarh to discuss the programme’s roadmap and implementation strategy.
Funds to Be Released Over Six Years
The Chief Minister said the loan amount will be released in phases from 2026 to 2032. The funds will support large-scale works in the canal sector, irrigation efficiency, groundwater recharge, and sustainable agriculture.
He said Haryana has a total of 1,570 canals. Of these, 892 canals have already been restored over the last 20 years. The remaining 678 canals will be restored over the next five years. This includes 115 canals at a cost of Rs. 2,325 crore with World Bank support, 284 canals costing Rs. 2,230 crore from the state budget, and 279 canals costing Rs. 2,880 crore through NABARD.
Canal Minors and Micro-Irrigation
The Chief Minister stated that out of 15,562 canal minors under MICADA, 4,487 have been restored to date. The remaining 1,961 minors will be restored in the next five years. This includes 400 minors with World Bank assistance of Rs. 450 crore, 1,500 minors funded by the state at Rs. 1,250 crore, and 61 minors through NABARD for Rs. 402 crore.
With World Bank support of Rs. 900 crore, micro-irrigation systems will be introduced across nearly 70,000 acres of farmland to improve water use efficiency.
Steps to Address Waterlogging and Promote Sustainable Farming
The Agriculture Department will develop tube-well-based drainage and surface drainage systems to tackle waterlogging across around 2 lakh acres of land. The Chief Minister said sustainable farming practices such as crop diversification and direct seeding of rice will be promoted. For these measures, the World Bank will provide financial assistance of about Rs. 886 crore.
Groundwater Recharge and Reuse of Treated Water
To strengthen groundwater recharge, about 80 water bodies will be constructed in southern Haryana. Treated water from four major sewage treatment plants in Jind, Kaithal, and Gurugram will be reused for irrigation over nearly 28,000 acres of agricultural land. This component has received World Bank support of around Rs. 600 crore.
Modern Canal Network and Long-Term Benefits
Once the project is completed, all canals in the state will be fully lined and modernised. The canal network is expected to function effectively for the next 25 years, reducing the need for restoration funds in the future.
The project will also provide irrigation to an additional 2 lakh acres of land and help farmers overcome waterlogging. By reducing dependence on fresh water for irrigation, more water will be available for drinking purposes.
Focus on Farmer Awareness and Future Planning
The Chief Minister appealed to farmers to adopt micro-irrigation systems, especially for paddy cultivation. He directed officials to organise large-scale awareness campaigns to encourage adoption.
He also said tenders will soon be allotted to supply drinking water through pipelines to the Kharkhoda industrial zone. Officials were directed to prepare proposals for channel links to ensure future water availability for industrial areas.
During the meeting, Chief Engineer Dr. Satbir Kadyan gave a detailed presentation. Senior officials, including Arun Kumar Gupta and Dr. Saket Kumar, were present.
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