Haryana gets Rs 5,715-crore water security push; Saini says state aims for self-reliance

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has said the World Bank-backed Water Secure Haryana Programme has been approved with an outlay of around Rs 5,714.80 crore, describing it as a major step towards making the state self-reliant in the water sector. Saini made the remarks while chairing a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee-C to review the programme. Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana and Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Shruti Choudhry were also present.

Programme to run till 2032

The Water Secure Haryana Programme is planned to be implemented between 2026 and 2032. The World Bank has approved a loan of around Rs 4,000 crore for the project, while the remaining funding will come through other sources, including the state government. The programme is designed to improve the efficiency, reliability and sustainability of water use, particularly in the agricultural sector, while strengthening Haryana’s overall water-management infrastructure. It will cover 15 clusters spread across approximately 48.94 lakh acres.

678 canals to be rehabilitated

A major component of the programme involves the rehabilitation of Haryana’s canal network. As many as 678 canals are proposed to be rehabilitated as part of the broader effort to improve water distribution and reduce losses. In addition, 620 khaals, or field water channels, are to be restored under the Micro Irrigation and Command Area Development Authority programme. The initiative is expected to benefit more than 3.18 lakh acres of agricultural land. Saini has directed officials to prepare a comprehensive grassroots-level water-management plan so that water can be distributed equitably up to the field level.

Focus on groundwater conservation

The programme will also focus on groundwater conservation and the optimum utilisation of treated wastewater. The government plans to develop a real-time digital water-management system to monitor water availability, budgeting and consumption across Haryana. The initiative is expected to combine canal modernisation, groundwater recharge, treated-water reuse and improved agricultural water efficiency as Haryana attempts to address its long-term water requirements.

Village committees to play role

The Chief Minister has also emphasised community participation in water management. Village-level water committees are expected to participate in maintaining khaals, with financial support proposed through dedicated funds involving the state government and local bodies. The government views the programme as a long-term intervention aimed not merely at expanding infrastructure but at changing how available water resources are monitored, distributed and conserved across Haryana.

Saini calls approval significant step

Saini described the World Bank’s approval as a significant development in Haryana’s efforts to strengthen water management and move towards greater self-reliance in the sector. The programme assumes particular importance for an agriculture-intensive state where efficient irrigation, groundwater conservation and equitable water distribution remain crucial to both farming and long-term water security.