Jodhpur Pakhar/Kotshamir, August 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Tuesday inaugurated canal infrastructure projects worth ₹31.39 crore in Bathinda district, saying the works will expand canal-based irrigation and reduce farmers’ dependence on groundwater.
Goyal said the Punjab Government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has undertaken irrigation projects worth ₹7,500 crore across the state to extend canal water to villages and support the prosperity of the farming community.
The projects inaugurated at Jodhpur Pakhar in the Maur Assembly constituency and Kotshamir in the Bathinda Rural constituency are stated to provide irrigation benefits to an additional 11,612 acres of land. The government also said around 20 more villages would receive canal water benefits.
At Jodhpur Pakhar, Goyal inaugurated the completed Bhai Bakhtaur Link Channel, constructed at a cost of ₹1.13 crore. The channel will provide irrigation water to an additional 63.18 acres. Maur MLA Sukhveer Singh Maisarkhana distributed laddoos among residents and thanked the minister, while villagers expressed happiness over the project.
At Kotshamir, a 31-km distributary has been lined at a cost of ₹27.85 crore. According to the Water Resources Department, the work will benefit farmers in 17 villages and bring 35,417 acres under canal-water irrigation.
The villages listed are Gill Kalan, Rampura, Lehra Dhurkot, Lehra Sondha, Kora Kotran, Lehra Mohabbat, Lehra Khana, Balianwali, Chak Bakhtu, Chak Fateh Singh Wala, Chak Ram Singh Wala, Mansa Khurd, Raikhana, Dhan Singh Khana, Kotfatta, Kotbhara and Kotshamir.
Goyal also inaugurated the completed lining work on the tail-end portion of the Katar Singh Wala Sub-Minor, undertaken at a cost of ₹45 lakh. The 2.02-km sub-minor will benefit farmers in Kotshamir, Gehri and Katar Singh Wala.
Renovation works on the Shergarh Minor, Gehri Minor and associated watercourses were also inaugurated. These works will benefit farmers in Kotshamir, Naseebpura and Gehri Bhagi.
Goyal said canal and watercourse construction and renovation would help conserve water, reduce dependence on tubewells, save electricity and lower irrigation expenses. He said the projects were also aligned with the government’s objectives of increasing farmers’ income and promoting sustainable agriculture.
He added that the state government was committed to strengthening irrigation infrastructure across Punjab and would continue implementing such projects on a priority basis to provide farmers with essential agricultural facilities.
The minister was accompanied by Bathinda Rural in-charge Gopal Singh Kotfatta, Bathinda Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amandeep Singh Mavi, Maur Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gurjinder Singh, Executive Engineer Jagmeet Singh Bhaker, members of the Jodhpur Pakhar village panchayat and other party workers, officials and villagers.
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