RESTORATION OF 18349 WATERCOURSES SPANNING OVER 6900 KM ENSURES TAIL-END IRRIGATION AND CANAL WATER TO NEW COMMAND AREAS
SIRHIND FEEDER RELINING AND MAJOR CANAL CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT TO CHECK WATERLOGGING AND IMPROVE DISCHARGE
LAST-MILE CONNECTIVITY AND GROUNDWATER RECHARGE INITIATIVES TO SECURE IRRIGATION AND WATER SUSTAINABILITY
MORE THAN 1300 LOCATIONS RECEIVED CANAL WATER FOR IRRIGATION FOR FIRST TIME
FOR FIRST TIME AFTER INDEPENDENCE, CARRYING CAPACITY OF MAJOR CANALS INCLUDING SIRHIND CANAL AND PATIALA FEEDER ENHANCED: BARINDER KUMAR GOYAL
Chandigarh, December 30:
Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal, on Tuesday, informed that the year 2025 marked a decisive phase for irrigation expansion and water management in the state with sustained public investment and field-driven execution. He said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government adopted a farmer-centric approach focusing on canal efficiency, tail-end delivery and groundwater recharge to meet both present and future needs. With record financial outlays and revival of long-neglected infrastructure, the Water Resources Department ensured equitable water availability across regions, particularly in drought-prone and waterlogged belts.
Divulging further, the Cabinet Minister said, development works exceeding Rs.5640 crore have been undertaken from FY 2022-23 to 2025-26. Projects worth over Rs.878 crore were completed in FY 2022-23, followed by Rs.1251 crore in FY 2023-24, Rs.1786 crore in FY 2024-25 and Rs.1725 crore earmarked for FY 2025-26. These works included lining and repair of canals and watercourses, enabling reliable canal water supply to tail-end farmers. Around 2600 km of canal lining has been completed during the last three years, including more than 960 km in FY 2024-25 alone. The current year placed special focus on brick-lined and pipeline watercourses to strengthen last-mile irrigation.
To address chronic waterlogging and seepage, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said, the Department undertook relining of the Sirhind Feeder at a cost of around Rs.774.80 crore. Nearly 100 km of relining work has been completed under this project.
“For the first time after Independence, the carrying capacity of major canals including Sirhind Canal and Patiala Feeder has been enhanced, ensuring better discharge control and improved irrigation reach across command areas”, categorically said the Cabinet Minister.
Sh. Goyal said a statewide watercourse restoration drive brought back to life 18349 watercourses spanning over 6,900 km that had remained damaged or abandoned for 20 to 30 years. As a result, more than 1300 locations received canal water for irrigation for the first time, including over 400 locations during FY 2024-25. He said a restrictive government policy that blocked repair of watercourses prior to 25 years was revoked. Following this decision, repair works were taken up on priority through MGNREGA and convergence with state funds. Over the last two years, more than 1277 watercourses measuring above 900 km have been repaired or restored.
The Water Resources Minister said works worth around Rs.870 crore covering nearly 3445 km of pipelines and brick-lined watercourses are underway in FY 2025-26 to ensure last-mile connectivity.
He said that three new canals are being constructed in Pathankot district to provide surface water to the area for the first time. On groundwater recharge, around 900 check dams have been constructed on choes and rivulets, 189 canal recharge sites completed and 60 new recharge schemes are under execution. Besides this, 127 new ponds are being dug and connected with canals, while 66 existing ponds are being linked to canal systems. More than 3200 soak pits have also been taken up for construction to strengthen aquifer replenishment.
