Haryana Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday chaired an important meeting of the Standing Finance Committee-C (SFC-C) regarding the ‘Water Secure Haryana’ Program’. Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana and Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Smt. Shruti Choudhry also remained present.
The Chief Minister said that the approval of the Rs. 5,714.80-crore ‘Water Secure Haryana Program’ by the World Bank, aimed at making the State self-reliant in the water sector, is a significant step towards strengthening water management in Haryana. Under the project, 15 clusters covering a total area of 48.94 lakh acres will be developed across the State. Of the total project cost, Rs. 4,000 crore will be provided as a World Bank loan, while the remaining Rs. 1,714.80 crore will be met from State funds, he said.
The departmental officers apprised the Chief Minister that the ‘Water Secure Haryana’ Program’ is a flagship integrated water resources management programme, under which works will be undertaken in a phased manner over six years, from 2026 to 2032. The funds will be utilised for large-scale works in the canal area. As part of the project, 104 canals will be rehabilitated at a cost of Rs. 2,484.87 crore, with financial assistance from the World Bank.
The Chief Minister said that 620 watercourses (khals) would be rehabilitated through the Micro Irrigation and Command Area Development Authority (MICADA), providing irrigation facilities to 3.18 lakh acres of land. In addition, 120 canal-based micro-irrigation projects would be implemented, benefiting 56,830 acres of land.
He said that 2 lakh acres of waterlogged land in the State would also be reclaimed. Under the project, efforts would be undertaken to promote Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) on 5 lakh acres and crop diversification (MPMV) on 1.12 lakh acres. Crop diversification, DSR and other measures would be promoted to encourage sustainable and water-conservation-based agriculture.