Says, major initiative to conserve groundwater by ensuring canal water reaches the tail ends
No shortage of funds for development works under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann: MLA Dr. Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi
SBS Nagar, (Asian independent (jatinder pal singh kaler ) Punjab’s Minister for Mines and Geology, Land and Water Conservation, and Water Resources, Brinder Kumar Goyal, today inaugurated a special project costing Rs. 14 crore to provide irrigation water to 55 villages of the Banga constituency in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. Accompained by MLA Banga Dr. Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, the Minister said that this step by the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is a transformative initiative aimed at ensuring that canal water reaches the tail ends of agricultural fields, providing major relief to the farming sector.The Water Resources Minister said that the project, prepared by the Canal Administration and PWRMDC under the Bist Doab Canal and Ground Water Division, Jalandhar, has cost a total of Rs. 14.01 crore. He said that under the project, 46 pucca watercourses with a total length of 79.52 kilometres and 14 underground pipelines have been laid. Farmers in 55 villages of the constituency will directly benefit from the project. Earlier, 3,880 acres in the area were under canal irrigation, which has now increased to 8,770.91 acres. Thus, 4890.91 have received access to canal water for the first time.
The Cabinet Minister further said that, in addition, a recharge scheme at the tail end of Kangror Minor and a new pond at the Banga Rest House have taken an important step towards groundwater conservation by recharging 267 cubic metres of water into the ground. He said that, overall, 4890.91 acres of land in the constituency have been connected with irrigation facilities for the first time, resulting in significant conservation of precious groundwater. In addition, more than 22 villages have been provided with temporary outlets from distributaries, further increasing the irrigation capacity through canal water to 6,053.42 acres in Banga.
Furthermore, he said that the state government has spent a whopping Rs. 7,500 crore to make Punjab self-reliant in terms of utilising river water for irrigation, which has ultimately helped conserve precious groundwater, electricity and other agricultural resources in the state. He added that over 39,000 cusecs of water are currently flowing through 1,117 minors/ distributaries across the state, marking a record increase and ensuring an adequate supply of canal water to farmers. He said that the government’s objective is not only to provide Punjab’s farmers with canal irrigation facilities but also to conserve groundwater.
Speaking on the occasion, Banga MLA Dr. Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi appreciated the new initiatives of the Punjab Government and thanked the Water Resources Minister for providing this important project to the Banga constituency. He said that major development works are being initiated by the state government on a daily basis and that there was no shortage of funds for development projects.
He said that this project will benefit farmers in 55 villages of the Banga constituency, namely Anokharwal, Bahrowal, Bajon, Bakhlor, Balakipur, Banga, Behram, Bharoli, Bir Alarwal, Bisla, Chahal Kalan, Chak Bilga, Chak Guru, Cheta, Farala, Gadani, Garhi Ajit Singh, Gehal Mazari, Gosal, Gunachaur, Hapowal, Hion, Jandiala, Kaleran, Jhander Kalan, Jhander Khurd, Kahma, Kajla, Kamam, Kangror, Kariha, Khamachon, Khatkar Khurd, Kultham, Ladian, Katarian, Lakhpur, Langeri, Mafialarwal, Mehal Gehlan, Maksoodpur, Malla Bedian, Malupota, Manguwal, Mehiliana, Mukandpur, Moolpur, Raitanda, Sall Kalan, Sall Khurd, Sandhwan, Sarhala Ranuan, Sundh, Surapur Theh, and Thandian.
