In a major step towards bringing more agricultural land under canal irrigation, Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government is undertaking a massive expansion of canals, watercourses and pipeline networks across the State.
The initiative aims to provide canal water to the maximum possible agricultural area and reduce farmers’ dependence on tubewells.As part of this campaign, construction of watercourses and laying of pipelines to extend canal irrigation facilities to various villages of Nihal Singh Wala Assembly Constituency in Moga district is progressing at a rapid pace.
Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal stated this while inaugurating canal irrigation projects worth Rs.83.64 crore in various villages of Nihal Singh Wala today. He said that nearly 316 kilometres of watercourses and pipelines were being constructed under the project which would provide direct canal water to agricultural land in 56 villages.
Once completed, the project would expand the area under canal irrigation by nearly 25,872 acres. The project would provide farmers with affordable, reliable and timely irrigation facilities while also reducing the unnecessary exploitation of groundwater.
Barinder Kumar Goyal said, the Mann Government was committed to taking canal water to every possible farm in the State to make agriculture more profitable, sustainable and environmentally sound, adding that the Government was fully committed to the welfare of farmers and the overall development of the agriculture sector.
The Cabinet Minister said that expansion of canal irrigation would help reduce irrigation costs for farmers, save electricity and contribute significantly towards conserving groundwater. He added that the Punjab Government would continue to accord priority to such public-oriented projects in the coming years to further strengthen the agriculture sector.
Giving details of the projects inaugurated today, the Water Resources Minister said that work on 20 watercourses and pipeline projects was inaugurated at Rauke Kalan village. The project includes 42.27 kilometres of pipelines and 95.85 kilometres of watercourses at a cost of approximately Rs.36.84 crore. It would benefit 22 villages and bring 10,340 acres of land under canal irrigation.
The villages to benefit from the project include Rauke Kalan, Bir Rauke, Badhni Kalan, Bir Badhni, Kokri Kalan, Nathuwala Jadid, Jhandewala Sharqi, Patto Jawahar Singh Wala, Ajitwal, Kokri Phoola Singh, Butter, Dhurkot Kalan, Dhurkot Tahli, Rania, Raunta, Purane Wala, Kishangarh, Chougawan, Nangal, Baude and Ramuwala Kalan.
Besides this, the Cabinet Minister inaugurated the project for lining of the Bilaspur Minor at a cost of Rs.2.20 crore. The 9.70-kilometre-long minor would benefit seven villages including Bilaspur, Lohara, Takhtupura, Dhurkot Ransih, Ransih Kalan, Ransih Khurd and Nihal Singh Wala and bring 2,320 acres of land under canal irrigation.He said that five watercourses with a combined length of 168.12 kilometres would be renovated at a cost of Rs.44.64 crore. The project would benefit 27 villages and bring 13,212 acres of land under canal irrigation.
Prominent amongst others who were present included MLA Nihal Singh Wala S. Manjit Singh Bilaspur, Chairman of the Planning Board and District President Moga Barinder Kumar Madheke, Chairman Market Committee Nihal Singh Wala Amritpal Singh Khalsa, Chairman Market Committee Badhni Kalan Paramjit Singh Bhullar, Chairman Block Samiti Nihal Singh Wala Harjinder Singh Sidhu, Vice Chairman Zila Parishad Jasdeep Singh Gary, Organisation In-charge Davinder Singh Takhtupura, President Truck Union Nihal Singh Wala Mandeep Singh Manuke Gill, Sarpanch Darshpreet Singh Dhudike, President Truck Union Ajitwal, Additional Deputy Commissioner S. Jaspinder Singh and SDM Nihal Singh Wala Gagandeep Singh among others.