Bathinda, August 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Thursday inaugurated canal water projects worth Rs 17.28 crore in Bagha and Jeevan Singh Wala villages of the Talwandi Sabo Assembly constituency, saying the state government was working to ensure canal irrigation reaches farmers, including those in tail-end areas.
At Bagha village, Goyal inaugurated newly constructed canal watercourses of the Bangi Rajbaha and other outlets (moghe), completed at a cost of Rs 10.78 crore. The project is expected to provide irrigation water to around 3,500 acres of farmland.
At Jeevan Singh Wala, the minister inaugurated a 13-km-long watercourse and lining project, constructed at a cost of Rs 6.50 crore.
Talwandi Sabo MLA and AAP Chief Whip with Cabinet rank, Prof. Baljinder Kaur, was present during the inaugurations.
Addressing farmers, Goyal said the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government was committed to ensuring that farmers could depend more on canal irrigation rather than groundwater extracted through tubewells.
He said farmers in several tail-end villages of the Malwa region had faced inadequate irrigation water for nearly four decades and claimed that their longstanding demand was now being addressed.
According to Goyal, around 82 per cent of the available canal water is currently being utilised, while efforts are underway to make the remaining 18 per cent usable.
The minister said greater use of canal water would help improve soil health and crop productivity while reducing dependence on groundwater. He said conserving groundwater and improving its levels were important for the long-term sustainability of agriculture.
Goyal also contrasted the current electricity supply arrangements with those under previous governments, saying farmers earlier had to wait in their fields for power supply to operate tubewells. He said the state government was now providing full daytime electricity supply for agricultural motors, allowing farmers to return home at night.
He directed officials of the Irrigation Department to ensure regular cleaning and maintenance of canals and watercourses. He said unlined watercourses had previously resulted in water losses and were prone to damage, while the newly constructed pucca watercourses would help reduce wastage.
The minister appealed to farmers to use canal water judiciously and stressed the importance of conserving every drop.
Baljinder Kaur thanked the state government for addressing farmers’ irrigation concerns and said the projects would help ensure canal water reaches fields in tail-end areas.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Talwandi Sabo, Veerpal Kaur, representatives of the gram panchayats of Bagha and Jeevan Singh Wala, local office-bearers, residents and other prominent persons attended the programmes.
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