Chandigarh, August 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Tuesday said the state government has ensured adequate canal water supply to tail-end areas of Abohar and Balluana constituencies, with several villages receiving canal water after decades.
Replying to a question raised by Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Goyal said the claim of general shortage of canal water at the tail ends of the Malukpur, Panjawa and Lambi distributary systems was not correct. He said tail-gauge records during the paddy season showed that these systems were receiving water close to their authorised discharge levels.
The minister explained that the Malukpur, Panjawa and Lambi distributaries receive water through the Sirhind Feeder, which is supplied through the Ferozepur Feeder. The availability of water in the Ferozepur Feeder depends on water levels at Harike Pattan.
Goyal said the carrying capacity of the Ferozepur Feeder has been increased from 11,192 cusecs during 2017-22 to 13,873 cusecs under the present government, an enhancement of 2,681 cusecs, or around 24 per cent.
He said the Ferozepur Feeder, constructed during 1954-55, had not witnessed major capacity augmentation for decades. The Punjab government undertook extensive strengthening work, including widening and deepening of the canal, to improve its capacity.
Similarly, the carrying capacity of the Sirhind Feeder has been increased from 4,703 cusecs to 7,000 cusecs, adding 2,297 cusecs to its capacity.
The minister said that earlier, water for the Abohar and Fazilka regions was lifted through pumping stations from the Sirhind Feeder, which often resulted in shortages. After strengthening of the canal network, water supply has become continuous and the earlier rotational system has been reduced.
Goyal said Punjab’s existing canal network, designed for around 36,000 cusecs, is currently carrying nearly 39,000 cusecs of water, including through the freeboard area. He added that the state government has enhanced the overall carrying capacity of the existing canal system by nearly 12,000 to 13,000 cusecs, equivalent to the capacity of a major canal like the Bhakra Main Line Canal.
He said the improved canal supply has provided relief to farmers during the ongoing dry spell and helped meet irrigation requirements for the paddy crop despite inadequate rainfall.
The minister informed the House that villages including Kikkar Khera, Gumjal, Jhummian Wali and Tutwala in Abohar and Khuiyan Sarwar blocks, which had remained deprived of canal water at tail ends for years, were now receiving supply.
He added that the government has also strengthened the last-mile irrigation network by developing around 200 watercourses, including pipelines and field channels, in the Abohar area to ensure delivery of canal water to agricultural fields.
Responding to supplementary questions, Goyal said the department maintains date-wise tail-gauge records, which are available for verification. He reiterated that the government remains committed to ensuring equitable distribution of canal water and reliable irrigation facilities across Punjab, particularly in areas that remained deprived of adequate supply for decades.
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