CHANDIGARH, May 9 — A major overhaul of the Ropar Canal Network has resulted in a tripling of irrigated territory, bringing relief to farmers in dozens of villages who previously relied on erratic groundwater. Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal stated on May 9 that the total irrigated area is set to reach 89,329 acres, a significant increase from the previous 29,488 acres.
Minister Goyal affirmed that villages such as Kanganwal, Bhudan, and Tungaheri are seeing canal water for the first time in nearly 40 years. He stated that the Bhagwant Mann administration has focused on the restoration of watercourses that had remained non-functional for over a decade. The minister declared that the completion of storage tanks and risers in Samlah and Paharpur has successfully extended irrigation to previously arid zones.
The state’s strategy involved replacing old pipelines and upgrading pump houses that had fallen into disrepair under previous tenures. Minister Goyal noted that nearly 1,539 acres in the Nangal tehsil of Ropar District have been reclaimed through these revived systems. He maintained that the government has already achieved nearly 78% of its targeted coverage across the state, signaling a shift toward more sustainable farming practices.
The minister declared that the impact of this transformation is visible in improved agricultural productivity and a decreased reliance on expensive tube-well irrigation. He affirmed that the Punjab Government remains committed to making the lives of its citizens more secure by safeguarding the state’s vital water resources. By focusing on the tail-end villages, the administration is ensuring that development is inclusive and reaches the remotest fields, Goyal asserted.
