Mann Govt ends four-decade irrigation drought in Kandi belt, canal water reaches tail-end farms
Kandi area gets irrigation lifeline as ₹ 238.90 crore canal revamp is completed; Project irrigating 1.25 lakh acres across 433 villages of Kandi area
Mann Govt invests over ₹ 4,557 crore in canal irrigation, 2.5 times more than previous dispensations: Goyal
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Ending a four-decade-long irrigation drought in Punjab’s Kandi belt, the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government has successfully restored canal water supply to tail-end farms, bringing long-awaited relief to farmers in the hilly and drought-prone region. With the completion of a ₹238.90 crore revamp of the Kandi Canal system, canal irrigation has now reached 433 villages and is covering 1.25 lakh acres of agricultural land across the Kandi area, marking a decisive turnaround in Punjab’s irrigation landscape.
Sharing details of the achievement, Water Resources and Soil & Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said the Mann government has made irrigation revival a governance priority and backed it with unprecedented financial commitment. “From 2022 to 2025, the Punjab government has invested over ₹4,557 crore in canal irrigation, which is nearly two-and-a-half times more than the ₹2,046 crore spent by the previous Congress government between 2019 and 2022,” he added.
Highlighting the impact on farmers, the Water Resources and Soil & Water Conservation Minister said that the results are now visible on the ground. “In numerous areas, farmers who had abandoned hope are now receiving canal water after nearly 40 years,” he said.
He explained that the Kandi Canal network, with a carrying capacity of 463 cusecs and a total length of 129.035 kilometres from Talwara to Balachaur, had suffered severe deterioration over the years. He said that although construction from Talwara to Hoshiarpur was completed in 1998 and Stage-2 from Hoshiarpur to Balachaur in 2016, widespread leakage and seepage had prevented water from reaching tail-end areas. “The Bhagwant Singh Mann government prioritised this long-pending issue and invested ₹238.90 crore to ensure that canal water now flows from Talwara to Balachaur, reaching the furthest points after nearly four decades,” he said.
Goyal stated that the revived canal system is now benefiting 433 villages across Hoshiarpur and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar districts and irrigating 1.25 lakh acres of agricultural land in Dasuya, Mukerian, Tanda-Urmar, Sham Churasi, Hoshiarpur, Chabbewal, Garhshankar and Balachaur.
Detailing the works undertaken under Kandi Canal Stage-1, the Minister said, “Concrete lining from Talwara to Hoshiarpur has been completed at a cost of ₹120 crore.” He added that to further optimize canal performance, the government restored earthen watercourses and rejuvenated 11 distributaries spanning 61 kilometres, benefiting 203 villages in Hoshiarpur district and covering 28,500 acres. He also informed that a ₹58.78 crore underground pipeline distribution project covering 417.52 kilometres is scheduled to be completed this month.
Referring to Kandi Canal Stage-2 between Hoshiarpur and Balachaur, Minister Goyal said that six flow distributaries extending approximately 42 kilometres have been restored. “These works are providing irrigation facilities to 72 villages across Hoshiarpur and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar districts and covering 18,800 acres of agricultural land,” he said.
The Minister further revealed that five previously deteriorated lift schemes on the canal, designed to provide water to elevated areas, have been completely overhauled at a cost of ₹34 crore, including their distribution systems. “These revitalised lift schemes are now serving 38 villages and irrigating around 11,576 acres of land that was earlier dependent entirely on rainfall,” he said.
Highlighting new initiatives, Goyal said the Bhagwant Singh Mann government has also installed five new lift schemes at a cost of ₹11.62 crore, irrigating an additional 1,500 acres. He added that to raise groundwater levels, recharge structures have been constructed over five defunct government tubewells at a cost of ₹20 lakh, while 24 ponds have been developed with an expenditure of ₹5.16 crore and are being periodically replenished with canal water.
In a significant environmental intervention, the Minister said that 18 seasonal streams, or choes, have been connected to the canal network at a cost of ₹4.18 crore, allowing controlled release of canal water to enhance groundwater recharge. He also underlined that canal water is now being supplied to industrial units. “This step is reducing groundwater extraction while also generating supplementary revenue for the state,” he said.
Goyal further said that 13 low-earthen dams on various streams in Hoshiarpur and S.A.S. Nagar districts have been restored after underground pipe distribution systems had deteriorated over time. “The government has invested ₹11.50 crore to revive these systems,” he said.
Referring to future works, the Minister said that the Kathgarh lift scheme is being executed in three phases. He said, “Phase one will be operational next month and will provide canal water to about 5,000 acres in villages including Kathgarh, Malewal, Baghowal, Paniali Kalan, Paniali Khurd, Surapur, Chahal, Sudha Majra, Kamalpur, Tandoh and Bachwan.” He added that phase two and phase three will be made operational next year and will extend irrigation facilities to an additional 9,000 acres in villages such as Kolar, Balowal, Saunkri, Sudha Majra, Majra Jattan and Taunsa.
He also said that the department is systematically replacing deep tubewells with lift irrigation schemes to supply canal water to areas that were earlier dependent on groundwater. “This approach will significantly reduce pressure on Punjab’s fast-depleting groundwater resources,” Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said.
With canal water finally reaching the tail-end of the Kandi belt after four decades, the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government has delivered a long-overdue correction in Punjab’s irrigation system, reinforcing its commitment to farmers, water security and sustainable agriculture.