Haryana among worst performing States

Haryana has been ranked among the worst performing states in water resource management in the country.

The state is ranked 16th in overall composite water management index with a score of 37.8 in financial year 2016-17, according to the Niti Aayog’s report on Composite Water Management Index released recently.

Of the 17 non-Himalayan states, Haryana in base year (financial year 2015-16) was ranked 16th and remained at the same position in financial year 2016-17.

The report stated that Haryana and other states achieving less than 50 water index score, needs to significantly improve their water resource management practices.

Contrary to the claims of Haryana Government, the pace of work for water management has remained below expectations in the state.

The Niti Aayog pointed out that in groundwater restoration indicator, none of the identified wells in the state have improved, possibly due to a lack of recharge infrastructure. In water harvesting, Haryana has constructed only 40 percent of its target of water harvesting structures, the report stated.

On-farm use indicator, the state needs to provide information on agriculture indicators, especially given its position as a large output producer, the report observed.

As per the report, the low performers are, worryingly, comprised of the populous northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, and others, are home to over 600 million people .

Most worryingly, large agricultural states, such as Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have negligible micro-irrigation adoption, the report added.

Niti Aayog has ranked the states through first of its kind index on the composite water management, comprising 9 broad sectors with 28 different indicators covering various aspects of ground water, restoration of water bodies, irrigation, farm practices, drinking water, policy and governance.

The reporting states were divided into two special groups – ‘North Eastern and Himalayan states’ and ‘Other States’ - to account for the different hydrological conditions across these groups.

The report, however, also appreciated the waste water treatment process in the state and maintained that Haryana is the leader and treats 95 percent of its waste water.

In terms of irrigation maintenance, the state has highest per unit expenditure on (irrigation operation and maintenance) and has lined almost all of its suitable canals. Apart from this, Haryana provides water to more than 90 percent of its rural habitants and urban population, it stated.

At present, several parts of Haryana are parched with locals fetching potable water from far off places and through water tankers.

Amid the water crisis, the Chief Minister had recently met Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and RK Singh to discuss issues related to water-sharing and providing adequate supply of water for drinking and irrigation purpose for the state.