World Bank Approves ₹4,000-Crore Loan for Haryana’s Jal Sanrakshit Haryana Water Security Project

The World Bank has approved the ₹4,000-crore loan for the Haryana’s ambitious “Jal Sanrakshit Haryana” project. This initiative aims to make the state water-secure, improve irrigation efficiency, strengthen groundwater recharge and modernize the water infrastructure across the state of Haryana. Respectable  Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini described the initiative as the transformational step towards the ensuring sustainable water availability for future generations.

What Is the Jal Sanrakshit Haryana Project?

The Jal Sanrakshit Haryana project is the comprehensive water security program which is designed to address the multiple water-related challenges facing the state.

The project focuses on to the,

• Water conservation
• Canal modernization
• Groundwater recharge
• Irrigation efficiency
• Treated wastewater reuse
• Crop diversification
• Community participation in water management

The initiative seeks to improve the water availability while promoting the sustainable agricultural practices and climate-resilient development.

Why Haryana Needs a Water Security Mission

Haryana is India’s one of the leading agricultural states but it faces the increasing pressure on water resources due to intensive farming, groundwater depletion and changing climatic conditions.

Several regions in the state have witnessed the declining groundwater levels while waterlogging affects the productivity in other areas.

Rising demand for the irrigation water has made efficient water management as a critical priority.

The Jal Sanrakshit Haryana project aims to address these challenges with a combination of the infrastructure upgrades, technology adoption and community-based water governance.

World Bank’s ₹4,000-Crore Support

The World Bank’s approval of the ₹4,000-crore loan also highlights the international confidence in Haryana’s water management strategy.

According to the Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the World Bank has appreciated the state’s efforts to improve the water resource management and strengthen irrigation infrastructure.

The funding will also support the large-scale modernization efforts which aimed at to enhancing the water-use efficiency and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Massive Canal Rehabilitation Programme

One of the most important components of the project is the rehabilitation and modernization of the Haryana’s canal network.

Officials have stated that the state has 678 canals that still require restoration.

The rehabilitation plan includes the,

• 106 canals to be restored with World Bank assistance at a cost of ₹2,484.87 crore.
• 293 canals to be rehabilitated through state government funding at a cost of ₹2,230 crore.
• 279 canals to be upgraded under the NABARD-supported projects.

The initiative is also expected to improve the water distribution efficiency and reduce the losses across the irrigation network.

Benefits for the Agriculture and Farmers

Agriculture remains at the heart of this project.

The program will rehabilitate the total 620 water channels and it benefitting the approximately 3.18 lakh acres of agricultural land.

In addition to this,

• 120 canal-based micro-irrigation projects will be upgraded.
• Irrigation benefits will be extended to nearly 56,830 acres.
• Water delivery systems will become more efficient and more reliable.

These improvements are expected to help the farmers yo increase productivity while reducing dependence on groundwater extraction.