Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi led a crucial meeting with the World Bank Appraisal Mission to advance the ‘Water Secure Haryana’ program, focusing on long-term water sustainability. The initiative, with a total budget of Rs 5,715 crore, including a Rs 4,000 crore World Bank loan, aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural water use in the state. Over a six-year span, the project will revamp water management systems through a collaborative effort involving various departments.
The program will see the Irrigation and Water Resources Department receiving Rs 3,328 crore, the Micro-Irrigation and Command Area Development Authority allocated Rs 1,500 crore, and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare utilizing Rs 887 crore. This coordinated approach among departments is set to ensure streamlined planning and execution for improved water governance. Engineer in Chief Satbir Singh Kadian highlighted the program’s focus on modern technology, institutional strengthening, and farmer-centric interventions to revolutionize water management practices.
Covering 15 clusters across 48.94 lakh acres, the program aims to benefit a substantial portion of the state’s cultivable command area. It emphasizes data-driven water management systems, including digital databases and real-time monitoring, to enhance irrigation efficiency and service delivery. Additionally, the initiative promotes sustainable agricultural techniques like crop diversification and water-saving practices such as direct-seeded rice, with a vision to establish a model for sustainable water management and agricultural resilience in the country.
