Chandigarh, Aug. 9 -- The World Bank approved a Rs.5714 crore "Water Secure Haryana Programme" aimed at strengthening water management and helping the state become self reliant.

Stating this at a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee-C (SFC-C) to review the programme, chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday said 15 clusters covering 48.9 lakh acres will be developed across Haryana over six years from 2026 to 2032.

Of the total project cost, Rs.4,000 crore will come as a World Bank loan, while the remaining Rs.1,714 crore will be funded by the state government.

The programme will focus on integrated water resources management, rehabilitation of the canal network, groundwater recharge, water conservation and promoting sustainabl...