Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal on Friday informed the Punjab Vidhan Sabha that the state government was expanding canal irrigation and strengthening the canal network to ensure that water reaches agricultural fields across Punjab.
Replying during question hour to a question raised by Baba Bakala MLA S. Dalbir Singh regarding canal water supply and the lining of watercourses in the constituency, the Cabinet Minister said that concrete lining of 31.44 km of canals had been completed at a cost of Rs. 21.97 crore while the remaining 77 km would be taken up on the basis of feasibility assessments and priority.
The Cabinet Minister informed the house that the canal network serving Baba Bakala constituency originates from the Sabhraon Branch of the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) system. Irrigation in the area is supplied through seven distributaries and five minors with a combined length of 108.71 km.
Responding to the concerns raised by MLA S. Dalbir Singh regarding the Raiya, Nagoke, Bhinder and Ghaggar Bhana Rajbahas, the Water Resources Minister said that these channels collectively serve around 28,540 acres of agricultural land. He said the government would take up the remaining canal lining works in a phased manner, subject to feasibility and the availability of funds.
Providing details of the work completed in the constituency, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said that 31.44 km of the 108.71-km canal network had been lined with concrete at a cost of Rs. 21 crore 97 lakh 50 thousand. The remaining stretch of approximately 77 km would be considered for lining in the coming period based on technical feasibility and project priorities. He said the objective was to strengthen the canal infrastructure and improve the reliable delivery of irrigation water to farmers.
The Cabinet Minister said that canal water utilisation in Punjab had increased from around 26% to 80% under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann. He said that the government had focused on taking canal water to the tail-end areas so that farmers could access irrigation supplies closer to their fields.
He further informed the house that the area receiving canal irrigation had expanded from 20.89 lakh acres to 61 lakh acres. The government has spent Rs. 7,500 crore to strengthen the irrigation network and improve water distribution across the state.
Sharing details of water availability in Baba Bakala, the Cabinet Minister said that during the Kharif season, water flows in different distributaries ranged from 100% to 132.8% of their respective capacities. He added that canal flows across Punjab had reached 40,000 cusecs for the first time, whereas, the average water capacity was around 26,000 cusecs prior to year 2022.
The Water Resources Minister said the government was working towards its target of ensuring that the entire available share of canal water is utilised within Punjab for agricultural needs.
