Chandigarh, May 13: A delay in the realignment and relining of the Rajasthan Feeder Canal in Punjab’s Faridkot region has triggered an acute water crisis across 12 districts of western Rajasthan. Supply was scheduled to resume on May 11, but the continued closure has now stretched to 45 days, halting the flow of the Sutlej-Beas waters from the Harike Barrage to the Thar Desert.
Former Rajasthan Canals Chief Engineer Vinod Mittal maintained that the prolonged suspension has severely compromised public health. He stated that residents are currently relying on small rations of water stored for two months, raising significant concerns regarding the spread of water-borne illnesses like diarrhea.
“People are forced to drink two-month-old stored water, which is being supplied in very small quantities,” Mittal declared. He noted that the situation has disrupted daily life and irrigation schedules across the desert belt, which depends entirely on the Indira Gandhi Canal system.
In Punjab, Superintendent Engineer Sandeep Goyal affirmed that water would be restored as soon as possible, though he declined to provide a specific timeline for the completion of the flooring and side wall lining. Meanwhile, Punjab Cabinet Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal recently reviewed the ₹170 crore project, which involves relining a 16.62 km stretch of the feeder.
The Minister declared that he has directed officials to expedite the remaining work to mitigate the impact on neighboring Rajasthan. Despite these orders, an inspection of the site on Tuesday evening revealed that several sections of the canal flooring remain unfinished, indicating that the restoration of the supply may still be days away.
