Under the visionary leadership and guidance of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the World Bank has approved technical and financial assistance (loan) of ₹5,700 crore under the ‘Jal Sanrakshit Haryana Project’ aimed at making the state self-reliant in the water sector.
World Bank (Photo:IANS)
Under the visionary leadership and guidance of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the World Bank has approved technical and financial assistance (loan) of ₹5,700 crore under the ‘Jal Sanrakshit Haryana Project’ aimed at making the state self-reliant in the water sector.
The Chief Minister said the approved amount will be disbursed in phases over six years, from 2026 to 2032. The funds will be utilised for large-scale works in the canal sector.
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He informed that, out of a total of 1,570 canals in the state, 892 have been restored over the past 20 years, while the remaining 678 are proposed to be restored over the next five years. This includes the restoration of 115 canals at a cost of ₹2,325 crore with World Bank financial assistance, 284 canals at a cost of ₹2,230 crore from the state budget, and 279 canals at a cost of ₹2,880 crore through NABARD.
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The Chief Minister further stated that out of a total of 15,562 canal minors under MICADA, 4,487 minors have been restored over the past 20 years, and the remaining 1,961 minors are proposed to be restored over the next five years.
This includes 400 canal minors at a cost of ₹450 crore with World Bank assistance, 1,500 minors at a cost of ₹1,250 crore from the state budget, and 61 minors at a cost of ₹402 crore through NABARD. In addition, with World Bank support of ₹900 crore, micro-irrigation systems will be implemented over approximately 70,000 acres of agricultural land.
The Chief Minister said that the Agriculture Department will develop tube-well-based drainage and surface drainage systems to address the problem of waterlogging in the remaining waterlogged areas of the state, covering approximately 2 lakh acres of land.
He added that sustainable and water-conservation-based agriculture will be promoted through crop diversification, direct seeding of rice, and other initiatives. For this purpose, the World Bank will provide financial assistance (loan) of approximately ₹886 crore.
To strengthen groundwater recharge, about 80 water bodies will be constructed across various districts of southern Haryana, the Chief Minister said. Additionally, treated water from four major sewage treatment plants located in Jind, Kaithal, and Gurugram will be reused to provide irrigation for approximately 28,000 acres of agricultural land, for which the World Bank has approved financial assistance of about ₹600 crore.
The Chief Minister said that the World Bank appreciated the government’s visionary leadership and guidance for this achievement and described the ‘Jal Sanrakshit Haryana’ programme as a “paradigm shift” in the state’s water management approach. On completion of this project, all canals in Haryana will be restored, making them among the most modern and well-maintained canal systems in the country.
He said that the ‘Jal Sanrakshit Haryana’ programme will not only prove to be a milestone in making the state self-reliant in water but will also strongly reflect the government’s commitment to ensuring a safe, inclusive, and sustainable water future for the coming generations.
The Chief Minister further stated that upon completion of the project, the entire canal network of the state will be fully lined and will function efficiently for the next 25 years. After this period, no major funds will be required for canal restoration for many years.
Additionally, irrigation facilities will become available for an additional 2 lakh acres of land, and farmers will get relief from the problem of waterlogging. Since irrigation currently relies largely on fresh water, this project will help conserve water, making more water available for drinking purposes.
Appealing to farmers, the Chief Minister urged them to adopt micro-irrigation systems as much as possible, particularly in paddy cultivation. He said this would result in higher yields and help farmers overcome several issues associated with open-field water usage.
The Chief Minister also said that tenders will soon be allotted to provide drinking water through pipelines for the industrial zone in Kharkhoda. He directed officials to prepare proposals under the Jal Sanrakshit Project for channel links to ensure future water availability, especially for supplying drinking water to industrial zones.
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