Chandigarh, July 9 - While appreciating Haryana Government’s efforts made towards water conservation through ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ scheme launched for crop diversification, Haryana Government is all set to get a financial aid of Rs 500 crore from the Central Government for the expansion of this scheme. Besides this, State will also get an amount of Rs. 1000 crore from the Centre for rejuvenation of ponds and for treating of water.

Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal today met Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi. During the meeting he discussed about the expansion and progress of various water conservation projects which are being carried out in Haryana.

Later, the Chief Minister while interacting with media persons at Haryana Bhawan in New Delhi said that the Central Government has appreciated various water conservation projects being carried out by Haryana and has assured to provide adequate financial support for successful implementation of these projects.

Mr. Manohar Lal informed that Mr. Gajendra Singh has also discussed various water conservation projects initiated by Haryana with Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi. He said that under the ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ scheme, farmers are being encouraged to grow alternative crops other than paddy. He said that though under ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ scheme, set target area for the cultivation of alternative crops other than paddy was one lakh hectares, but now this scheme is also being implemented in the areas beyond the set target. He said that under this scheme, Haryana will get a financial aid of Rs 500 crore from the Central Government for expansion of crop diversification.

The Chief Minister informed that Centre Government has also lauded the efforts of Haryana for swiftly moving forward to achieve the target of providing drinking water to all rural households by 2022 under the ambitious 'Jal Jeevan Mission' (JJM). He said that this year on August 15, 2020, this scheme will start in 1000 villages of Haryana.

He informed that under the Jal Jeevan Mission, Centre Government would also give an amount of Rs. 1000 crore as a matching grant to Haryana for restoration of ponds and treatment of water.

It is pertinent to mention that a scheme for rejuvenation of 14,000 ponds has also a being implemented in the State in a planned manner. At present work on 20 ponds covered under areas included in Mahagram Yojana is under progress.

The Chief Minister said that under the scheme for purifying pond water through organic method, Centre will be starting a pilot project in the village Juan of Sonipat District. He said that under Atal Bhujal Yojana, as many as 1000 water recharge wells will be set up in Haryana to control the depleting groundwater table.

He said that on the recommendation given by River Yamuna Monitoring Committee to discharge 50 cumecs water into the Yamuna River, the State Government informed the Jal Shakti Ministry with a justification that it is not feasible for Haryana to discharge 50 cumecs of water into the Yamuna. Centre has also agreed on the justification given by Haryana, he said.

Additional Chief Secretary, Public Health Engineering Department, Mr. Devender Singh, was also present during the media interaction.