Advertisement
When should a housing society in Mumbai start considering re...
From GST on JDAs to SEBI’s REIT reclassification and the S...
Stay ahead in the world of real estate with our daily podcas...
Stay ahead in the world of real estate with our daily podcas...
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that the state has significantly expanded its irrigation coverage over the past four years by increasing canal water usage from 26.5 per cent to around 78 per cent of agricultural land. The government has invested INR 6,700 crore in canal infrastructure, including lining, repairs, and restoration of canals and watercourses. Several long-defunct canals, including the Sarhali canal in Tarn Taran and the Kandi canal in Hoshiarpur, have been revived, improving water access across villages and reducing dependence on groundwater.
Bhagwant Mann stated in Chandigarh that the state government has made notable progress in the irrigation sector over the past four years by increasing canal water irrigation from 26.5 per cent to approximately 78 per cent of farm land. He highlighted that the administration has spent INR 6,700 crore on canal lining, repair works, modernisation, and strengthening of irrigation infrastructure, along with the development of new water channels. Advertisement
He further noted that the total canal irrigation potential in Punjab stands at around 75.90 lakh acres, whereas earlier only 20.89 lakh acres were receiving canal water. With ongoing efforts, coverage has now expanded to nearly 58 lakh acres. He added that this improvement reflects increased utilisation of available surface water resources across the state.
The Chief Minister also shared details about large-scale restoration work carried out across canal systems. The government has spent around INR 2,000 crore to construct and restore nearly 13,000 km of canals, enabling canal water to reach about 58 lakh acres of farmland. In addition, around 7,000 water channels have been restored, along with cleaning of 15,539 canals and revival of 18,349 watercourses, which has ensured that even far-end agricultural fields receive adequate water supply.
He further mentioned that 101 abandoned canals covering 545 km have been revived for the first time in the state's history. Many of these canals had remained unused for decades and were filled with soil. These restoration efforts were carried out without acquiring additional land. The revival of these systems has improved water flow significantly, adding an estimated 10,000 cusecs of water to the irrigation network, comparable to the capacity of the Bhakra canal.
Mann also pointed out the revival of the 22-km Sarhali Minor canal in Tarn Taran, which had been non-functional for years. According to him, the canal was buried underground and had been forgotten over time, but engineering efforts have now made it fully operational again. Similarly, the Kandi canal in Hoshiarpur, which remained inactive for nearly four decades, has also been restored.
He further stated that canal water is now being supplied daily instead of the earlier rotational system, ensuring more consistent access for farmers. In some cases, water flow has even been redirected through systems like the Ferozepur Sirhind feeder towards Harike Pattan to maintain balanced distribution. Additionally, around 1,400 villages across the state have received canal water for the first time since Independence, including many that had been without such supply for several decades.
On groundwater conservation, he noted that increased reliance on canal water has helped reduce groundwater extraction in certain areas. For example, in a village in Gurdaspur, groundwater usage dropped significantly from over 61 per cent to about 31 per cent. The administration expects further reduction in groundwater stress as canal utilisation continues to improve.
The government has also undertaken infrastructure expansion by constructing new canals and activating pump systems to strengthen irrigation coverage across districts. Alongside this, disaster management efforts have been supported through allocation of INR 477 crore from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund for flood prevention and water management works, including desilting operations and deployment of modern machinery to clean drainage systems.
Source PTI
FAQ
Q1: What progress has Punjab made in canal irrigation coverage?
A1: Punjab has significantly increased its canal irrigation coverage from 26.5% to around 78% of agricultural land over the past four years. This expansion reflects improved utilization of surface water resources and reduced dependence on groundwater in several regions.
Q2: How much investment has been made in canal infrastructure?
A2: The state government has invested approximately INR 6,700 crore in canal infrastructure. This includes canal lining, repairs, modernization, restoration of existing canals, and development of new water channels to strengthen irrigation systems across Punjab.
Q3: What is the total canal irrigation potential and current coverage?
A3: Punjab's total canal irrigation potential stands at around 75.90 lakh acres. Earlier, only about 20.89 lakh acres were irrigated through canals, but coverage has now expanded to nearly 58 lakh acres due to ongoing restoration and expansion efforts.
Q4: What restoration work has been carried out on canals and watercourses?
A4: The government has restored around 13,000 km of canals with an investment of about INR 2,000 crore. Additionally, nearly 7,000 water channels have been revived, 15,539 canals cleaned, and 18,349 watercourses restored to ensure water reaches far-end agricultural fields.
Q5: Have any previously defunct canals been revived?
A5: Yes, the government has revived 101 abandoned canals covering 545 km that had remained unused for decades. These efforts were undertaken without acquiring additional land and have significantly improved water flow, adding an estimated 10,000 cusecs to the irrigation network.
Q6: Which specific canals have been restored?
A6: Notable restorations include the Sarhali Minor canal in Tarn Taran, which had been non-functional for years, and the Kandi canal in Hoshiarpur, which remained inactive for nearly four decades. Both canals have now been made operational again.
Q7: What impact has increased canal usage had on groundwater levels?
A7: Increased reliance on canal water has helped reduce groundwater extraction in several areas. For example, in a village in Gurdaspur, groundwater usage declined from over 61% to about 31%. Continued expansion of canal irrigation is expected to further ease groundwater stress across the state.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
