Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Thursday inaugurated two canal projects worth over Rs. 82 crore at Sandhu Kalan and Bhagatpura villages in Barnala district. The projects will provide assured canal irrigation to 23 additional villages and bring 13,461 acres of agricultural land under reliable irrigation.
Addressing the gathering, the Cabinet Minister said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government has dedicated irrigation projects worth nearly Rs.7,200 crore across the state to strengthen agriculture, improve water management and ensure the availability of canal water to farmers.
The Water Resources Minister inaugurated the Rs.37 crore Dhapali Canal System Project at Sandhu Kalan village in the Bhadaur Assembly constituency. He said the project will extend canal irrigation to 11 additional villages Vidhata, Chungha, Dina Sahib, Bhadaur, Patti Deep Singh, Sehna, Balloke, Sandhu Kalan, Nainewal, Sandhu Khurd and Phulewala bringing 3,854 additional acres under canal irrigation.
He informed that while 5,418 acres were earlier receiving canal water, the irrigated area has now increased to 9,272 acres.Later, the Cabinet Minister inaugurated the Rs.45.46 crore project for the concrete lining and renovation of the Sehna Distributary, Daraj Minor, Dhillwan Minor and Sehna Minor at Bhagatpura village.
The project will benefit 12 additional villages Patti Khattar, Jaimal Singh Wala, Dhillwan Patiala, Dhillwan Nabha, Maur Patiala, Maur Nabha, Ugoke, Daraj, Sehna, Burj Fatehgarh, Patti Daraka and Bhagatpura.With the completion of this project, the command area has expanded from 16,112.86 acres to 25,720.12 acres bringing an additional 9,607.26 acres under assured canal irrigation.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhadaur MLA S. Labh Singh Ugoke thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal for dedicating irrigation projects worth crores to the constituency. He said canal water has reached several villages for the first time, describing the projects as a historic gift that will strengthen agriculture and improve the livelihoods of farmers.
The inauguration was celebrated by farmers of Sandhu Kalan and Bhagatpura, who distributed sweets as canal water reached their fields. They also expressed happiness over all nine outlets (moghas) of the Dhillwan system becoming operational, saying the projects would open new avenues for agricultural prosperity. The villagers thanked the Punjab Government for completing the long-awaited works.
Among those present were Chairman Tarsem Singh Kahneke, Chairman Amrit Dhillwan, Nirbhai Dhaula, Bhadaur Municipal Council President Jagdeep Jaggi, SDM Tapa Ayush Goyal (IAS), Superintending Engineer (Water Resources) Ankit Dhir, XEN Jagmeet Singh and Harshant Verma, party leader Bhola Singh Master, village sarpanches, panchayat members and other dignitaries.