Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann started Phase 1 of the Ferozepur Feeder Canal repair project. This is a big step toward making Punjab’s agriculture stronger. The ceremony, which took place in Makhu on February 24 and 25, 2026, was an important step in the growth of the state’s irrigation infrastructure.
The ₹180-crore project aims to improve the water supply in the Malwa area so that farmers can get better help and depend less on groundwater.
A Look at the Project
When it was first built in 1952, the canal came from the Harike Headworks and is very important for watering farmland all over Punjab. It spreads out over 6.45 lakh hectares across 14 blocks in the districts of Ferozepur, Faridkot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Fazilka.
The canal can now carry 13,873 cusecs of water, up from 11,192 cusecs when Phase 1 of the relining work was finished. It has also been widened to 180 feet and the depth to 21 feet, which makes the flow much better.
CM Mann said that years of inaction had made it harder for water to reach the canal. He said that the percentage of land in the state that is irrigated by canals has grown from 21% to 68% under his government. He said that 85% coverage would be reached soon.
Bhagwant Mann: Effects on Agriculture
The improved canal makes sure that tail-end fields, border villages, and the nearly 1,365 new villages that are linked will always have water. This change should cut down on overusing groundwater, which is a big problem in Punjab.
The project helps not only crops but also animals and people who live in rural areas and depend on steady access to water. Seasonal drops in discharge used to hurt output, but now they’re expected to make things much worse.
Punjab is said to have spent about ₹6,500 crore to restore almost 6,900 km of water lines across the state. This is part of a larger plan to bring back irrigation.
More General Context
Bhagwant Mann said that the reopening of the canal was a “landmark gift” to farmers and emphasised that the government was committed to protecting Punjab’s water future in the face of climate change and falling water tables.
The improvement of the Ferozepur Feeder Canal is an important piece of infrastructure that will help protect Punjab’s agricultural economy and ensure long-term farming growth.
