Chandigarh,Feb 19: In a major stride towards climate-smart agriculture, the Haryana government has approved four community-based solar-powered integrated micro irrigation projects with a total outlay of ₹402.41 crore, aiming to expand advanced irrigation coverage and improve water efficiency across key districts of the state.
The projects were cleared by the State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi and will be executed under the Micro Irrigation and Command Area Development Authority (MICADA).
The initiative will be implemented across 61 canal outlets covering 20 blocks in Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Kurukshetra and Mahendergarh. Scheduled for completion between 2026–27 and 2028–29, the projects will bring 11,040 hectares under advanced drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, directly benefiting 8,926 farmers across 94 villages.
District-wise allocations include ₹95.78 crore for Bhiwani, ₹114.68 crore for Jhajjar, ₹77.17 crore for Kurukshetra and ₹114.78 crore for Mahendergarh.
Officials said the projects aim to enhance water use efficiency, reduce transmission losses and increase crop productivity through the adoption of solar-powered systems, which will also cut operational costs and promote environmentally sustainable farming practices.
Chairing the meeting, Rastogi emphasised the urgency of scientific water management amid changing climate patterns. “Integrated supply and demand management of water is essential to address climate variability and declining groundwater levels,” he said. He directed departments to ensure “timely execution, strict monitoring and effective coordination so that benefits reach farmers within the stipulated time frame,” and instructed officers to engage directly with farmers to share best practices.
The committee also approved 16 reform measures to strengthen transparency and accountability. These include registration of manufacturers and suppliers under PDMC (Per Drop More Crop) Guidelines, 2025, integration of the MICADA portal with the GST portal to prevent inflated billing, a component-wise bank guarantee mechanism for vendors, and inclusion of GST within admissible subsidy norms.
The new projects build on earlier progress between 2022–23 and 2024–25, during which MICADA implemented 99 NABARD-funded Micro Irrigation Fund schemes across 18 districts at a cost of ₹563.43 crore, achieving installation over nearly 40 per cent of the targeted area.
“The newly approved projects build upon this strong foundation and reaffirm Haryana’s commitment to climate-resilient, technology-driven and farmer-centric agricultural development,” Rastogi said.
