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Chandigarh, Nov 6 (IANS) The Haryana government is planning to launch the ‘Jal Surakshit Haryana’ programme, a Rs 5,700 crore initiative, of which Rs 4,000 crore ($500 million) will be supported by the World Bank under its programme-result framework.
The six-year program, starting in 2026, aims to transform the state’s irrigation and water management systems through an integrated, data-driven and performance-based approach.
At a meeting with World Bank representatives on Thursday, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi described the program as a “paradigm shift” in the state’s approach towards water management.
He said that this initiative will play a vital role in achieving the vision of making Haryana the first truly water-secure state of India by the end of this program in 2032.
The Chief Secretary highlighted that the project will have a component of Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) and requested the World Bank to add valuable suggestions in this regard.
A senior representative of the World Bank described the initiative as “not just an irrigation project”, it is the state’s blueprint to become India’s first truly water-secure state.
The program will directly intervene in 14 strategic irrigation clusters spread over 18 districts, covering a cultivable command area (CCA) of 363,546 hectares.
On the same pattern, the remaining districts will be covered from funding from NABARD, state budget or other agencies.
While physical interventions will focus on specific groups, planning and institutional reforms will benefit all 22 districts.
A total of 1,798 km of canals in 14 strategic irrigation clusters will be upgraded with advanced automation and real-time monitoring systems like RTDAS and SCADA.
About 80 water bodies in various districts of southern Haryana will be rejuvenated to enhance groundwater recharge, and water from four major sewage treatment plants in Jind, Kaithal and Gurugram will be treated and reused to irrigate 11,500 hectares of agricultural land.
–IANS
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