Chandigarh: The Haryana cabinet on Thursday approved a ₹5,714.8 crore World Bank-supported programme aimed at strengthening water security, modernising irrigation infrastructure and encouraging water-efficient farming across the state, officials said. The cabinet also fixed the monsoon session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha to begin from August 27.
Scale and scope of the programme
Officials said the Water Secure Haryana Programme will cover 48.9 lakh acres across 15 irrigation clusters and is expected to benefit about 45 lakh people. The plan combines physical works on canals and watercourses, micro-irrigation projects, land reclamation and measures to encourage crop diversification and water-efficient practices among farmers.
The cabinet approved targeted capital works, including renovation and modernisation, and an array of investments described as follows:
- Canal renovation and new structures: Renovation of 104 canal channels and construction of 131 new water structures at a reported cost of ₹248 crore.
- Watercourse improvement: About 620 watercourses to be improved at an estimated expenditure of ₹900 crore.
- Canal-based micro-irrigation: 120 projects with an investment close to ₹600 crore.
- Land reclamation: Around 2 lakh acres of waterlogged land to be reclaimed using vertical and sub-surface drainage systems.
Farm-level measures and wastewater reuse
The state will promote alternative crop practices to reduce water stress. Officials said direct-seeded rice will be promoted across 5 lakh acres, while crop diversification will be encouraged on 1.1 lakh acres under the Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme.
In a move to augment available water resources, the cabinet also approved an allocation of ₹282.1 crore to promote the reuse of treated wastewater from four sewage treatment plants, enabling its productive application in irrigation and allied uses.
Implementation and expected outcomes
The programme’s emphasis on canal renovation, improved watercourses and micro-irrigation is designed to reduce conveyance losses and raise water-use efficiency on farms. Reclaiming waterlogged land aims to restore cultivable area and improve soil health in affected pockets.
Officials said the integrated approach — physical infrastructure, technology adoption and cropping changes — is intended to enhance resilience against erratic water availability and to support more sustainable agriculture in water-stressed zones.
| Component | Scale | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Canal renovation & new structures | 104 channels; 131 structures | ₹248 crore |
| Watercourse improvement | 620 watercourses | ₹900 crore |
| Canal-based micro-irrigation | 120 projects | ~₹600 crore |
| Wastewater reuse | From 4 STPs | ₹282.1 crore |
| Land reclamation | ~2 lakh acres | Not separately specified |
Complementary measures: startups and women entrepreneurs
Alongside water measures, the cabinet cleared supplementary provisions to the Haryana State Startup Policy-2022 with a special focus on women entrepreneurs. The package includes:
- 50% lease-rent subsidy for women-led startups for one year, capped at ₹10 lakh;
- 100% reimbursement of net SGST for seven years for women-led startups; other eligible startups will receive 50% SGST reimbursement for seven years;
- Assistance up to ₹10 lakh for technology licensing and transfer, and micro-grants of ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh for women-led ventures in select traditional and eco-friendly sectors;
- Plans to establish an H-Hub incubator and reserve 10% of departmental procurement for eligible Haryana startups.
Political and administrative timing
The cabinet announcement comes ahead of the state assembly's monsoon session, scheduled to open on August 27. The timing could allow legislators to debate funding and implementation arrangements for the large-scale programme during the session.
State officials characterised the package as an integrated push to make irrigation systems more efficient, reduce dependence on groundwater, and scale water-saving cultivation practices across extensive irrigated areas. They said the World Bank’s backing would support financing and technical inputs for execution over the coming years.
Implementation details such as cluster selection, procurement timelines, and safeguards for environmental and social impacts will be shaped during the project's operational planning and subsequent approvals, officials added.
