Punjab Govt Approves Malwa Canal Project

by The_unmuteenglish

Chandigarh, Dec. 26, 2024 – The Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has launched the Malwa Canal project to address long-standing water scarcity issues and enhance irrigation for sustainable agriculture in the Malwa region, officials announced Wednesday.

The new canal project, spanning 149.53 kilometers, is projected to irrigate approximately 2 lakh acres of land across Punjab. Marking the first canal construction in the state since independence, the initiative aims to deliver relief to farmers in the region, which has suffered from inadequate canal water for decades.

Costing an estimated ₹2,300 crore, the canal will stretch from Harike headworks to Warring Khera village along the Rajasthan Feeder Canal. It features a 50-foot width, 12.5-foot depth, and 500 moghas, with a designed capacity of 2,000 cusecs. Part of the project will be constructed on land acquired from the Rajasthan government for the Rajasthan Feeder Canal.

“The Malwa region has contributed significantly to Punjab’s agriculture but has struggled with water shortages since independence. This project is a lifeline for farmers in districts like Abohar, Fazilka, and Ferozepur,” a state spokesperson stated.

The decision to build the Malwa Canal stems from challenges faced during the Kharif season when high demand on the Ferozepur feeder disrupts water supply to other regions, including the Sirhind feeder. Punjab often resorts to canal rotations to cope with the demand, leaving critical areas underserved.

Currently, over 300 lift pumps operate between RD 7100 to 430080 of the Sirhind Feeder to irrigate farmland. These pumps originally supported irrigation from the Sirhind Canal System, which sourced water from Ropar headworks but has since struggled to meet growing demand.

The Malwa Canal is envisioned to function alongside the Rajasthan Feeder and Sirhind Feeder, improving water distribution to areas such as Sri Muktsar Sahib, Gidderbaha, Bathinda, Zira, Abohar, and Fazilka. “This will ensure a fair share of water reaches these districts, providing immense relief to farmers and improving agricultural output,” officials added.

By bridging the irrigation gap in Punjab’s largest region, the Mann-led government positions the Malwa Canal as a cornerstone in its broader strategy for agricultural sustainability and rural welfare.

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