AMBALA: The successful experiment of building reservoirs along the Saraswati river in Haryana has now been projected as a model solution to tackle floods and water scarcity in the region. Under the leadership of Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, who also heads the Haryana Sarasvati Heritage Development Board (HSHDB) and the Board’s vice-chairman (VC) Dhuman Singh Kirmach, the initiative is set to be expanded to other rivers including Som, Chautang, Rakshi, Tangri, Markanda and Ghaggar.Kirmach said, “Saraswati river model is successful in protecting against river floods, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan will have to adopt it.”HSHDB has already constructed nearly 15 reservoirs along the Saraswati river. Kirmach said these reservoirs have led to a significant rise in the water table in nearly 10 km radius across Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts, offering relief to farmers and reviving groundwater levels in areas previously marked as “dark zones.” Farmers in these regions are reporting major benefits for irrigation and agriculture, he said.Kirmach highlighted that traditionally, during Vedic and Harappan times, large reservoirs were established along riverbanks to store rainwater and ensure its use throughout the year. “Excavations at ancient sites such as Dholavira in Gujarat and Rakhigarhi in Haryana have revealed evidence of such reservoirs. The current project is a revival of this age-old practice”, said Dhuman Singh Kirmach.At present, large-scale Saraswati River reservoir works are underway in Bilaspur block of Yamunanagar district, including villages Chhilour, Rampur Haria and Rampur Kambian (350 acres), Ruhlahedi, and Mughalwali (9 acres), Sanghor (15 acres), Kandoli (12 acres), Rampura and Marchehri (7 acres each), Bhagwanpura (5 acres), Tatka (3 acres), Bohli (12 acres), Amargarh Majhara (2 acres), Bibipur lake (nearly 1,000 acres) and Seonsar forest (70 acres) near Pehowa, he said. “Together, these cover over 1,000 acres of land, with lakhs of cubic metres of soil already excavated to build storage capacity”, Kirmach added.Kirmach said that the objective of the project is twofold: to store rainwater and floodwater locally, thereby preventing inundation, and to use the stored water for irrigation post-monsoon and later channel it into the Saraswati river system. Officials pointed out that this dual benefit will ensure both flood control and water availability for farmers.The initiative has also caught international attention. Recently, World Bank officials visited Bohli reservoir and noted significant groundwater recharge in the area. They have extended full support to the project.With CM Saini’s backing, the Haryana government plans to replicate the Saraswati model across other rivers, potentially transforming water management in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan.