Why Haryana Is Spending Rs 5,715 Crore to Future-Proof Its Water Supply

Water has long been one of Haryana's biggest paradoxes. The state is among India's agricultural powerhouses, yet it is also grappling with depleting groundwater, waterlogging in some regions and an overdependence on water-intensive crops such as paddy.

Now, the state government believes it has a roadmap to tackle all three.

Haryana has approved the 'Water Secure Haryana' Programme, a Rs 5,714.8-crore initiative that seeks to overhaul how water is stored, distributed and used over the next six years. Backed by a Rs 4,000-crore World Bank loan, the programme will run until 2032 and cover nearly 49 lakh acres across 15 clusters in the state.

So, what exactly will change?

At the heart of the programme is the state's ageing canal network.

More than 100 canals will be rehabilitated, while 620 watercourses, or khals, will be upgraded to improve irrigation efficiency. Haryana also plans to roll out 120 canal-based micro-irrigation projects, a move expected to deliver water more efficiently to farms while reducing wastage.

The government says these measures will together improve irrigation across several lakh acres of farmland.

Why is groundwater a key focus?

Haryana's groundwater has been under increasing pressure, particularly in districts where paddy cultivation has expanded over the years.

The programme proposes to construct 131 new water bodies across seven districts to improve groundwater recharge. It will also reclaim around 2 lakh acres of waterlogged land, addressing the other side of Haryana's water challenge, where excess water has rendered agricultural land less productive.

Another part of the plan is to reuse treated wastewater instead of relying entirely on freshwater. Water from four sewage treatment plants will be diverted for irrigation, covering around 28,000 acres.

Is this also about changing farming?

Yes.

The project is designed not only to improve water infrastructure but also to change how water is consumed.

The government plans to expand Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) across 5 lakh acres, a cultivation method that uses significantly less water than conventional paddy transplantation. It also aims to encourage crop diversification on more than 1 lakh acres, reducing dependence on water-intensive crops and promoting more sustainable farming practices.

Why does it matter?

The programme is one of Haryana's biggest investments in water management and reflects a broader shift in how states are responding to growing water stress.

Instead of focusing only on building new infrastructure, the project combines canal modernisation, groundwater recharge, wastewater reuse, micro-irrigation and changes in farming practices under a single strategy.

If implemented as planned, the government says the initiative will modernise the state's canal network and move Haryana closer to becoming more water-secure in the years ahead.

(With inputs from ANI)