Punjab Agriculture: Punjab Water Resources Minister Shri Barinder Kumar Goyal today announced two major canal irrigation projects worth Rs 100.65 crore. These projects will provide canal irrigation facility to more than 90 thousand acres of agricultural land.
This will reduce the dependence of farmers on groundwater and will further strengthen the irrigation infrastructure of Punjab. These projects include concrete lining of 1-R Distributory System at a cost of Rs 64.11 crore and Kapuri Lift Irrigation Scheme at a cost of Rs 36.54 crore. Through this scheme, canal water will be provided for the first time to 20,719 acres of area in 20 villages of Patiala district.
Government is strengthening the canal network
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Water Resources Minister Shri Barinder Kumar Goyal said that the Bhagwant Mann government has given priority to restoration, modernization and expansion of canal irrigation network to ensure reliable supply of canal water to farmers and to tackle the serious problem of continuous decline in ground water level.
He said that the farmers of Punjab have been feeding the country for decades and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure uninterrupted supply of water to their fields. The government is re-strengthening the canal network and canal water is being supplied even to those areas which have been dependent on groundwater for generations.
Concrete lining project approved
The Water Resources Minister said that the government has approved a concrete lining project at an estimated cost of Rs 64.11 crore to reconstruct the nearly 60 years old 1-R distributary and increase its water carrying capacity. This project will provide adequate water for irrigation to its existing 69,967 acre agricultural command area and will benefit about 80 villages in Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala districts.
He said that the existing water carrying capacity of this distributary will be increased from 154.50 cusecs to 248.69 cusecs through concrete lining. Under the project, the initial portion will be lined on both sides, while the remaining length will include lining on both sides as well as the bed. An amount of Rs 40 crore has been earmarked to implement this project during the current financial year.
A large amount of water was being wasted due to seepage
The Cabinet Minister said the 1-R distributary was constructed almost six decades ago on the basis of water allocation of 2.04 cusecs per 1,000 acres. Now, with the government increasing the water allocation to 3.05 cusecs per 1,000 acres, it has become necessary to increase its water carrying capacity.
He said that with time this unlined canal had reached a dilapidated condition, due to which a large amount of water was being wasted due to leakage and seepage of water into the ground. Due to this, the smooth supply of water was also affected. Concrete lining will not only overcome these shortcomings but will also increase the water carrying capacity and ensure more reliable and uninterrupted water supply to farmers for canal irrigation.
The area has been deprived of canal water facility for a long time.
The Water Resources Minister said that the Kapuri Lift Irrigation Scheme, prepared at a cost of Rs 36.54 crore, will provide irrigation facility with canal water to 20,719 acres of cultivable land in 20 villages of Patiala district along the Haryana border. He further said, “These areas have been deprived of canal water facilities for a long time, due to which farmers were completely dependent on groundwater for irrigation.”
The 20 villages that will benefit from this scheme include Sarala Kalan, Kamalpur, Kapuri, Lachhru Khurd, Saunta, Rampur, Chamaru, Tahirpur, Jharwan, Harpalan, Narayangarh, Loh Simbli, Dadwa, Shamspur, Dharamgarh, Mandiyana, Kami Khurd, Untsar, Nanheri and Shekupur.
Under this scheme, water will be lifted and transported directly to the fields through the pipeline network. The project will be completed in a phased manner, for the first phase of which Rs 4 crore is proposed to be spent during the current financial year. Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said, “The Kapuri Lift Irrigation Scheme will fulfill the long-standing demand of the farmers of the area, where earlier canal water facility was not available. For the first time, 20,719 acres of area will get permanent facility of irrigation with canal water. This will reduce the pressure on groundwater and increase the sustainability of agriculture.”
Full utilization of canal water from Punjab's share
The cabinet minister said that the government has increased the quantity of water in the Bhakra Main Line system from 2.04 cusecs to 3.05 cusecs per 1,000 acres. Its objective is to ensure full utilization of canal water in Punjab's share and to tackle the problem of continuous decline in ground water level.
He said that the increase in water volume has increased the required capacity of the canals by about 1.5 times, making it necessary to strengthen and modernize the existing irrigation infrastructure. Accordingly, 1-R Distributory Project has been prepared to meet the increased irrigation needs.
Farmers' dependence on tube wells will reduce
Shri Barinder Kumar Goyal said that both the initiatives are part of the broader strategy of the Hon'ble Government which aims to ensure reliable irrigation system through canal water instead of over-exploitation of groundwater. Better availability of canal water will reduce farmers' dependence on tube wells and help in groundwater conservation. This will also reduce the need for subsidy on power supply.
He said that the Kapuri Lift Irrigation Scheme is especially important as it will provide canal water facility to those areas which have been dependent on groundwater for generations. This will reduce dependence on groundwater and bring more stability to the agricultural system.
Canal infrastructure strengthened with an investment of Rs 7,500 crore
The Water Resources Minister said that the Punjab government has spent about Rs 7,500 crore to further strengthen the canal irrigation infrastructure of the state. Along with this, approximately 14,000 kilometers of mines have been constructed and pipelines laid, while more than 19,000 mines have been rehabilitated.
He said that the Bhagwant Mann government is continuously continuing the work of restoring the dilapidated canal structure, so that irrigation water can be ensured to reach every farm. “Punjab's agriculture depends on canal water. Our objective is not only to expand the irrigation infrastructure but also to ensure that every drop of canal water is used for agriculture,” the cabinet minister said.
Referring to Punjab's contribution to national food security, the Cabinet Minister said that groundwater conservation and sustainable irrigation are matters of national importance in view of the state's significant contribution to the country's grain reserves.
Also contributing to the country's food security
He said that despite having less than 2 percent of the total geographical area of the country, Punjab contributes about 48 percent of wheat and 21 percent of paddy to the central pool. The minister said, “If Punjab's agriculture is affected, the country's food security is also affected. By expanding canal irrigation and reducing dependence on groundwater, we are protecting Punjab's agricultural future and at the same time contributing to the country's food security.”
The Cabinet Minister said that both these initiatives are another important step towards the aim of the Hon'ble Government to ensure uninterrupted supply of canal water, reduce dependence on groundwater and develop more efficient, sustainable and robust irrigation systems across the State.