Haryana has prepared projects worth Rs. 3251 crore to rehabilitate main off-takes of Western Jamuna Canal (WJC) carrier system
Chandigarh July 28- The Department of Irrigation and Water Resources, Haryana has prepared projects worth Rs. 3251 crore to rehabilitate main off-takes of Western Jamuna Canal (WJC) carrier system that is Sirsa Branch, Hansi Branch, JLN Feeder, Bhalaut Branch, Delhi Branch, and Gurugram Water Supply Channel. After the rehabilitation of the main carrier system and its main off-takes, about 4800 Cusec of additional water will be available to the State during the monsoon period.
This was informed in a review meeting of the Irrigation and Water Resources Department held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal here today. He directed the department to prepare a time-bound action plan for executing the project.
It was informed that an additional Capacity of 3700 Cusec has been created from Hamida Head to Munak Head to utilize the maximum available water during the monsoon period after rehabilitation of the Western Jamuna Canal (WJC) carrier system at a cost of Rs 210 Crore. Apart from this, about Rs. 200 Crore is being spent on the replacement and rehabilitation of various pumps, motors, and other ancillaries of the lift irrigation system in Mahendergarh, Rewari, Charkhi Dadri, Bhiwani and Jhajjar districts. After the complete rehabilitation, a lifting capacity of about 2100 Cusec would be restored. The entire project would be completed by December 31, 2020.
Mr. Manohar Lal stressed the need of shifting towards micro-irrigation for optimum utilization of available water in the State and directed the department to prepare an action plan of 10 years for the lining of about 6000 unlined watercourses out of total 15,404 watercourses in the State. He said that efforts would be made to get the funds from the Government of India under the Incentivizing Scheme for Bridging the Irrigation Gap (ISBIG).
The Chief Minister also directed to complete the repair work of bridges on a priority basis. The department has recently surveyed all the 12,631 bridges on various canals and drainage networks in the State and found that 1,754 bridges require minor or major repairs.
It was informed that 2 projects of community-based micro irrigation of 162 outlets have been recently got approved from NABARD under Micro Irrigation Fund and work on the same would be taken up very soon. Apart from this, a project of community-based integrated micro-irrigation with on-farm micro-irrigation in various districts of Haryana to utilize Treated Waste Water of existing 35 Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) with the estimated cost of Rs.500 Crore has been got approved from NABARD under Micro Irrigation Fund. Mr. Manohar Lal directed to complete the schemes within the target period of two years so that every drop of treated wastewater flowing in the drains would be utilized for irrigation.
It was also informed that 327 channels have been rehabilitated in the State during the last six years at a cost of Rs.1638 Crore. In addition, work on 196 channels with an estimated cost of Rs. 641.45 Crore is in progress. It was informed that 18 model ponds in various districts would be developed for the best utilization of ponds in villages for irrigation purposes. The Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Command Area Development Authority, and the Development and Panchayats Department would jointly develop these model ponds by January 2021.
It was also informed that under the ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ scheme, the State Government has decided to construct 1000 recharging wells in water-stressed and flood-prone blocks to raise the depleting groundwater level. Work on 300 such structures has been started and another 700 would be taken up shortly.
Among those present in the meeting included MLA Nangal Choudhary, Mr. Abhay Singh Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources Department Mr. Devender Singh, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Ms. Ashima Brar, Engineer in Chief, Irrigation, Mr. Birender Singh, Chief Engineer of the Department Mr. Sandeep Bishnoi and other senior officers of the State Government.