In fact, the state of Haryana has a specific six-year plan to counter its water crisis permanently. A plan to make Haryana water-secure by 2032 includes upgrading 1,798 kilometers of canals and regenerating over 80 water bodies in southern Haryana.
Biodrainage with Technology, Solving Waterlogging and Salinity
The Agriculture Department will establish vertical and subsurface drainage systems to mitigate waterlogging and salinity. The Forest Department will establish bio-drainage systems to manage water levels and increase soil fertility.
Implementation, Costs, and Funding for the Project
The estimated cost for this water resource management scheme is around ₹5,700 crores. World Bank loans will provide financing to the tune of around ₹4,000 crores. The state government will undertake integrated data-based and result-oriented approaches to its water policy. The project will benefit 14 irrigation clusters in 18 districts, spread over around 363,546 hectares of agricultural land.
Irrigation Water Management, Crop Diversification, Collective Farm Development
One thing that will receive special focus in this project is “Participatory Irrigation Management,” which will improve irrigation efficiency. The Irrigation Department and MICADA will both communicate the project to farmers.
Treated water would serve irrigation needs in Jind, Kaithal, and Gurugram districts. Farmers would use innovations like crop diversification and Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR).
Massive Institutional Reforms And Long-Term Effects
Although the manual labor will only happen in identified clusters, the benefit derived from policy reforms will touch all 22 districts in Haryana. The water system in the state will serve as a model example to the entire country.
