Context

At the meeting, CM Saini directed officials to prioritise water conservation, groundwater recharge, canal rehabilitation, expansion of micro-irrigation, and promotion of treated-water reuse. He stated, 'Jal ki pratyek boond ka sanrakshan aur sadupyog sunishchit karna sarkar ki sarvoch prathamikta hai' ('Ensuring the conservation and optimal use of every drop of water is the government's highest priority').

The Chief Minister instructed officers to prepare an effective, time-bound action plan and implement it at the ground level so that water management across Haryana can be made more efficient and accessible.

Policy Backdrop

Haryana faces acute groundwater depletion driven by intensive rice-wheat cultivation and depends heavily on canal systems fed by the Bhakra and Yamuna river basins. The WSHP builds on the foundation of national schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (launched 2015), which promoted micro-irrigation and water-use efficiency, and the Atal Bhujal Yojana (approved 2019), which supported groundwater management in water-stressed districts.

The programme also aligns with the broader Jal Shakti Abhiyan, under which states have been encouraged to rehabilitate aging canal infrastructure and scale up treated-water reuse to reduce dependence on groundwater extraction.

The 678-Canal Rehabilitation Plan

CM Saini disclosed that under the WSHP, a total of 678 canals will be rehabilitated across the state. Of these, 106 canals will be taken up with the financial and technical support of the World Bank, 293 canals will be funded through the state budget, and 279 canals will be rehabilitated with assistance from NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development).

This multi-source funding model — combining international institutional support, state resources, and a national refinancing agency — reflects the scale of infrastructure investment the state government is committing to water security. The World Bank and NABARD have both been active partners in irrigation and rural water infrastructure projects across Indian states in recent years.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of the WSHP are Haryana's farming communities and rural households, who depend on canal-fed irrigation for the dominant rice-wheat cropping cycle. Rehabilitation of aging canals is expected to reduce water losses from seepage and improve equitable distribution of surface water to tail-end farmers who are currently the most vulnerable to shortfalls.

Expansion of micro-irrigation and the reuse of treated water are intended to reduce the pressure on groundwater aquifers, several of which in Haryana are classified as over-exploited. Urban and peri-urban areas could also benefit from improved water availability as treated-water reuse reduces competition between agricultural and domestic demand.

What's Next

Officials have been directed to operationalise time-bound work plans for the canal rehabilitation drive. The measurable markers to watch will include the pace of canal rehabilitation across all three funding streams, changes in groundwater levels in targeted districts, and the expansion of area covered under micro-irrigation in subsequent agricultural seasons. The government's ability to deliver on the 678-canal target within a defined timeline will be a key test of the WSHP's implementation credibility.