Chandigarh, Sep 21 (PTI) Haryana has drawn up rural infrastructure proposals worth Rs 2,295.27 crore for improvement of irrigation, roads, drinking-water supply and storage infrastructure, with Rs 2,180.50 crore proposed as loan assistance under NABARD's Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi on Monday reviewed the progress of NABARD-assisted infrastructure projects in the State and emphasised faster implementation of ongoing projects and timely submission of drawal claims by implementing departments.

The six proposals prioritised by the Haryana government for 2026-27 cover major investments in irrigation, drinking water, roads and warehousing infrastructure, an official statement said.

NABARD Chief General Manager Nivedita Tiwary said that the new proposals include an irrigation proposal with a total financial outlay of Rs 315.36 crore and proposed RIDF assistance of Rs 299.59 crore, besides 57 road projects for improvement, widening and strengthening of roads involving a total outlay of Rs 495.71 crore and proposed RIDF assistance of Rs 470.92 crore.

Both proposals have been submitted on the RIDF web portal. A major rural drinking-water proposal covering five Mahagram villages --Bichore, Bisru, Nai, Singar and Pingawan -- in Nuh and Palwal districts has a total financial outlay of Rs 744.59 crore, with proposed RIDF assistance of Rs 707.36 crore.

The Chief Secretary reviewed the India International Horticulture Market (IIHM), Ganaur, Sonipat, for which NABARD has sanctioned a term loan of Rs 1,850 crore under NIDA (NABARD Infrastructure Development Assistance).

The project has a three-year financial phasing from 2025-26 to 2027-28. An amount of Rs 451 crore was released during 2025-26, against the phased amount of RS 740 crore, leaving a disbursement gap of Rs 289 crore.

Micro-irrigation was another key area reviewed at the meeting.

Four new proposals carrying a loan component of Rs 264.24 crore under the Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) have been recommended by the Steering Committee.

The meeting reviewed the progress of ongoing RIDF projects across various implementing departments. Department-wise progress relating to irrigation, roads, public health engineering, education, animal husbandry, agricultural marketing, warehousing and other infrastructure projects was also reviewed.

As per the statement, the meeting was also apprised that the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, has approved a borrowing power of Rs 2,300 crore from NABARD for Haryana during 2026-27. The Water Secure Haryana Program was also discussed as a major opportunity for NABARD assistance.

The programme has a total project cost of about Rs 5,714 crore, comprising around Rs 4,000 crore of World Bank assistance and Rs 1,714 crore as the State Government's contribution. It aims to strengthen water security and climate resilience through groundwater recharge, improvement in irrigation and water-use efficiency, rejuvenation of water bodies and watercourses, promotion of micro-irrigation and reuse of treated wastewater. PTI SUN MR