Haryana’s Minister for Irrigation and Water Resources, Shruti Choudhry, has instructed officials to accelerate development projects and promptly submit progress reports. During a meeting held today, she noted that Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has set a 100-day deadline for completing these projects and delivering the reports.
Minister Choudhry highlighted the necessity of not only maintaining and cleaning canals but also ensuring a steady water supply through them. She encouraged officers to openly communicate any challenges they encounter while implementing plans at the ground level. The meeting included a review of projects with budgets exceeding Rs. 10 crore.
She also stressed the importance of adopting new technologies, such as micro-irrigation, to enhance water supply to agricultural fields. Furthermore, she called for improved coordination among various departments to ensure efficient use of public funds and prevent wastage due to lack of synchronization.
Choudhry reviewed the progress of the Pond Authority regarding the construction of artificial ponds throughout the state and discussed the status, upkeep, and beautification of natural ponds in both villages and towns. She stated that the establishment of “model ponds” would help in conserving groundwater and improving water supply, urging that targets for these ponds be set and completed on schedule.
In her commitment to increasing the use of treated water from sewage treatment plants (STPs) for agricultural purposes, she plans to personally inspect the STP at Baharampur and evaluate the functionality of the Pehowa and Ladwa STPs. She intends to engage with local farmers to understand their challenges and gather feedback.
Additionally, the Minister requested that officers present a comprehensive flowchart of the various schemes in the next meeting, along with updates on flood control preparations specific to different areas, including project completion timelines and progress reports.