Chandigarh, November 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Tuesday announced two canal irrigation projects worth a combined Rs 100.65 crore, aimed at providing assured surface-water irrigation to more than 90,000 acres of agricultural land. The initiatives include a Rs 64.11 crore concrete lining project for the 1-R Distributary System and a Rs 36.54 crore Kapuri Lift Irrigation Scheme, which will extend canal water to 20,719 acres across 20 villages in Patiala district for the first time.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Goyal said the state government was focusing on restoring, modernising and expanding the canal network to ensure reliable irrigation and reduce dependence on groundwater. He said the 1-R Distributary, which is around 60 years old, would be strengthened to improve water supply to its existing culturable command area of 69,967 acres, covering around 80 villages in Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala districts.
The project will increase the distributary’s carrying capacity from 154.50 cusecs to 248.69 cusecs through concrete lining. The work includes side lining along the initial stretch and both side and bed lining along the remaining length. An allocation of Rs 40 crore has been made for the project during the current financial year. Goyal said the existing channel had suffered deterioration, leakage and seepage, affecting water conveyance and supply.
Explaining the need for the upgrade, the minister said the water allowance of the Bhakra Main Line system had been increased from 2.04 to 3.05 cusecs per 1,000 acres. The higher allowance, he said, required greater carrying capacity in the distribution channels to ensure fuller utilisation of Punjab’s canal-water allocation.
The Kapuri Lift Irrigation Scheme will provide canal water to 20,719 acres across 20 villages along the Haryana border in Patiala district. Goyal said these areas had historically lacked canal irrigation facilities, leaving farmers dependent on groundwater. Under the Rs 36.54 crore scheme, water will be lifted and supplied to agricultural fields through distribution pipelines. The project will be implemented in phases, with Rs 4 crore proposed for expenditure during the first phase in the current financial year.
The 20 villages covered by the scheme are Sarala Kalan, Kamalpur, Kapuri, Lachhru Khurd, Sautan, Rampur, Chamaru, Taharpur, Jharwan, Harpalan, Narayangarh, Loh Simbli, Darwa, Shamaspur, Dharmgarh, Madian, Kami Khurd, Untsar, Nanheri and Sheikhpura.
Goyal said the two projects were part of the government’s plan to expand surface-water irrigation, reduce pressure on groundwater and lower the power subsidy burden associated with agricultural tubewells. He added that improved canal infrastructure would also help ensure water reached tail-end areas of the distribution network.
Rs 7,500 Crore Invested in Canal Infrastructure
The minister said the state government had invested around Rs 7,500 crore in strengthening Punjab’s canal irrigation network. Around 14,000 kilometres of watercourses had been constructed and pipelines laid, while more than 19,000 watercourses had been restored.
He said the objective was to ensure that available surface water was used productively and reached farmers across the distribution system.
Highlighting Punjab’s contribution to national food security, Goyal said the state contributed around 48 per cent of wheat and 21 per cent of rice to the Central Pool despite accounting for less than two per cent of India’s geographical area. He said conserving groundwater and expanding sustainable irrigation were important for both Punjab’s agriculture and the country’s food security.
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