After decades of waiting, canal water has finally reached the fields of Punjab’s Kandi belt. Under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Kathgarh Lift Irrigation Scheme is transforming a region long marked by water scarcity and agricultural uncertainty. Linked to the Bist Doab Canal, the project is delivering assured irrigation to areas that had remained beyond reach for over three decades.
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For generations, farmers in this semi-hilly terrain relied on erratic rainfall and rapidly depleting ground water. Rocky soil and uneven topography made tubewell irrigation largely unviable, leaving vast stretches vulnerable to drought and crop failure. Today, that uncertainty is giving way to stability, as canal water begins to flow regularly into fields across Balachaur for the first time in decades.
Located on the right bank of the canal in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, the project is more than infrastructure, it is a lifeline for the region. The scheme will provide assured irrigation to 38 villages, covering nearly 11,500 acres of previously water-stressed land.
Engineered to overcome challenging terrain, the project lifts water up to 300 feet and will distribute it through a 221-kilometre closed pipeline network, which will further ensure minimal transmission losses and efficient delivery. Areas once considered beyond the scope of irrigation will now be brought under cultivation.
Sustainability remains central to the initiative. A 1,300-kilowatt solar power system will significantly reduce operational costs while supporting long-term energy efficiency, reflecting a forward-looking approach to water management.
The scale of impact is substantial. Irrigation coverage is set to expand from 28,205 acres across 72 villages to over 39,705 acres spanning 110 villages in the Kandi Belt of Balachaur area. For regions long classified as ‘dark zones’ due to critically low groundwater levels, this marks a decisive turning point.
For farmers, the transformation is deeply personal. “Earlier, we lived at the mercy of rain. A dry season meant certain loss,” said a local farmer. “Now, water has reached our fields and with it, a sense of security we never had before.”
More than a development project, the Kathgarh Lift Irrigation Scheme represents a new chapter for Punjab’s Kandi belt restoring confidence, strengthening livelihoods, and turning decades of hardship into a future defined by resilience and growth.
