CHANDIGARH, May 9 — Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal announced on Saturday that the Ropar canal network has undergone a massive transformation, with irrigated land expanding from 29,488 acres to nearly 90,000 acres. The initiative has successfully delivered canal water to the “last mile” villages in Ludhiana and Malerkotla, many of which had been deprived of such resources for forty years.
The minister stated that the AAP government has prioritized sustainable water management since taking office in 2022, when canal water usage was at 26.5%. Through large-scale cleaning and repair of long-neglected distributaries, the state has now reached approximately 78% of its targeted irrigation coverage. Goyal maintained that the goal is to ensure every farmer has access to canal water ahead of the upcoming paddy sowing season.
Strategic investments in infrastructure have fueled this 200% jump in coverage, the minister declared. He noted that the revival of defunct lift irrigation systems, including the replacement of aged pumps and control panels, has been pivotal. In the Sri Anandpur Sahib belt alone, lift irrigation initiatives are expected to bring an additional 3,882 acres under the plow, Goyal affirmed.
The minister asserted that the collaboration between the government and local farmers has been essential in restoring pump houses and field-level infrastructure. He maintained that these efforts reflect a decisive move toward reducing groundwater dependency and securing the state’s agricultural future. This revival is not merely about infrastructure but about restoring the confidence of the farming community, the minister declared.
