Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann highlighted the government’s achievements in enhancing canal irrigation infrastructure over the past four years. The government unlocked 10,000 cusecs from seasonal rivers, significantly increasing water supply to fields, equivalent to the Bhakra canal. Canal irrigation coverage has risen from 26.50% to 78%, with the revival of defunct systems like the Sarhali canal and the introduction of round-the-clock water supply through the Ferozepur-Sirhind feeder.
CM Mann shared that a record amount of Rs 6,700 crore has been invested in canal lining, repair, modernization, and infrastructure strengthening, the highest in Punjab’s history. The state’s canal irrigation potential of approximately 75.90 lakh acres has seen a utilization increase to nearly 58 lakh acres, marking a significant improvement. The government’s efforts have led to the restoration of 13,000 km of canals, benefiting 58 lakh acres of land and reviving around 7,000 water channels.
Emphasizing the restoration of abandoned canals, CM Mann mentioned the revival of 101 canals covering 545 km, some of which had been closed for decades. This intervention has brought an additional 2.75 lakh acres under irrigation, with an extra 10,000 cusecs of water now reaching fields. The restoration of old canal systems has effectively created a new Bhakra canal without the need for land acquisition.
