Highlighting the achievements of the state government over the past four years, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said significant steps have been taken to boost the use of canal water for agriculture across the state.
Punjab Expands Canal Water Use to Over 70% in Four Years: CM Bhagwant Mann
According to the government, when the administration took office, the utilisation of canal water in Punjab stood at around 21 percent. Through sustained efforts over the last four years, the usage has now increased to more than 70 percent, marking a major shift in irrigation practices.
Officials said large-scale cleaning
The state government also invested around ₹5,700 crore to strengthen irrigation infrastructure. As a result, canal water access has now been ensured to nearly 78 percent of agricultural land in the state.
Officials said large-scale cleaning and restoration work was undertaken to improve water flow in the canal network. A total of 15,539 canals were cleaned and 18,349 canal channels were made operational to ensure that water reaches tail-end areas as well.
The Chief Minister said the initiative has helped farmers receive a more reliable and affordable source of irrigation water. Increased canal water usage is expected to reduce farmers’ dependence on tube wells and help conserve rapidly depleting groundwater levels in the state.
The government also stated that strengthening the canal irrigation system will improve agricultural productivity and ensure equitable distribution of water across regions. Special focus has been placed on ensuring that tail-end villages, which earlier faced water shortages, now receive adequate canal water supply.
According to the state administration, the reforms in irrigation infrastructure are part of broader efforts to modernise agriculture in Punjab while making farming more sustainable and cost-effective for farmers. Officials said continued investments and maintenance of canals will remain a priority in the coming years to further expand irrigation coverage across the state.
