The Government of Haryana has finalised appraisal for the “Water Secure Haryana” programme, a ₹5,715 crore initiative aimed at improving water-use efficiency in agriculture.
Supported by a ₹4,000 crore loan from the World Bank, the six-year project focuses on strengthening irrigation systems, expanding micro-irrigation, and enabling data-driven water management. The programme will be implemented across 15 clusters covering nearly 49 lakh acres, signalling a shift toward coordinated, large-scale water governance.
By integrating digital databases and real-time monitoring, the state aims to optimise irrigation scheduling and reduce overuse of water, particularly in water-intensive crops. Alongside infrastructure upgrades, the initiative promotes crop diversification and water-saving cultivation practices like Direct Seeded Rice, especially in rice-growing regions.
Project Allocation and Integrated Governance
Irrigation and Water Resources Department: ₹3,328 crore allocated to strengthen primary irrigation infrastructure and water delivery systems.
Micro-Irrigation and Command Area Development Authority (MICADA): ₹1,500 crore focused on expanding micro-irrigation and last-mile water access.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: ₹887 crore directed toward farmer-level interventions and sustainable cropping practices.
Data-Driven Systems: Deployment of digital databases and real-time monitoring tools to optimise irrigation efficiency and service delivery.
Geographic Scale: Covers 48.94 lakh acres across 15 clusters, targeting large sections of Haryana’s command area.
What is "Direct Seeded Rice" (DSR)?
Direct Seeded Rice is a method of growing rice where seeds are sown directly into the field, skipping the traditional nursery and puddling stages. It acts as a catalyst for Water Sustainability because it can reduce water consumption by up to 20% and significantly lower labor costs. This mechanism manifests as a transition from "flooded transplanting" to "precision sowing," which also helps in reducing methane emissions and improving soil health.
For the Government of Haryana, promoting DSR is a primary lever to benchmark a trajectory where the state remains a leading grain producer without depleting its groundwater levels.
Policy Relevance
Shifts Agriculture Toward Water-Use Efficiency: Expansion of micro-irrigation and monitoring systems supports a transition from water-intensive to efficient farming practices.
Links Irrigation Reform with Crop Diversification: Reducing dependence on paddy cultivation aligns water policy with sustainable cropping patterns.
Strengthens Data-Driven Water Governance: Use of real-time monitoring enables precision irrigation and improved resource allocation.
Improves Last-Mile Water Delivery: Focus on command area development ensures equitable access to irrigation across farm sizes and locations.
Aligns Climate Adaptation with Agricultural Policy: The programme integrates water management with climate resilience and long-term sustainability goals.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: What digital training programs are being planned for local "Water User Associations" to ensure they can effectively utilise the real-time monitoring data for daily irrigation decisions?
Follow the full news here: Haryana Takes Major Leap Towards Water Sustainability