Ahead of the monsoon season, Haryana Government has formulated a State integrated action plan to take water conservation measures.
These measures included desilting of water bodies, lining of canals, construction of ponds and reservoirs and planting saplings. A meeting in this regard was presided over by Haryana Chief Secretary DS Dhesi on Tuesday.
During the meeting, it has been decided to take short term, medium term and long term measures for effective implementation of the state integrated action plan for water conservation.
The Chief Secretary directed the departments of Irrigation, Agriculture, Development and Panchayats as well as Public Health and engineering to implement the action plan effectively.
The State Government has decided that the short term measures would include a six-week plan to de-silt 170 water bodies and restore them. These water bodies included tanks, farm ponds and community ponds. Also, 194 new farm ponds, community ponds, tanks and reservoirs would be constructed. It has also been decided to construct 175 ground water recharge structures and 56 rainwater harvesting structures, on roof tops to conserve water.
Apart from this, lining of canals and improvement of water channels in a length of 598 kilometers would be carried out besides constructing 51 check dams. Also, saplings would be planted over an area of six hectares. All concerned departments would also take 154 other conservation measures during this period.
As a part of the medium term measures, the Irrigation Department has prepared a micro irrigation project costing Rs 25 crore to lift water with solar pumps for irrigation purposes in 13 districts. Also, as a long term measure, a project under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme involving an investment of Rs 29 crore has been sent to the Central Government for approval.
A day before, Haryana Agriculture and Irrigation Minister, OP Dhankar had informed that in case surplus water is available during monsoon, the Government would arrange for recharge of water.