For better irrigation, minister inaugurates 24 KM concrete lining Section of Second Patiala Feeder; completed in record time
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ February 7,2025
Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Goyal inaugurated the 24-kilometer concrete lining section of the Second Patiala Feeder canal, built at a cost of Rs 36 crore, setting a record for timely completion. The canal’s capacity has now increased from 900 cusecs to 1617 cusecs, ensuring better irrigation for the farmlands of Patiala, Sangrur, Malerkotla, and Mansa.
Addressing the event at Jorhepul, Minister Barinder Goyal emphasized that the Punjab Government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to delivering canal water to farmers efficiently. The Second Patiala Feeder, concrete lining completed in just one month 15 days, will now provide irrigation water to nearly 4 lakh acres of agricultural land across 10 blocks in four districts. He highlighted that the project, initially estimated at Rs. 42 crore, was successfully completed for Rs.36 crore, demonstrating cost efficiency and timely execution.
Criticizing previous Government, Barinder Goyal pointed out that past governments delayed projects for years and often exceeded budget estimates. In contrast, the Bhagwant Singh Mann government completed this major irrigation project in record time and under budget, fulfilling the expectations of farmers.
Speaking informally with the media, the Minister for Water Resources, Mining & Geology, and Land & Water Conservation stated that many areas of Punjab had not received canal water for over 40 years, but the farmer-friendly government has now ensured water supply within months. He emphasized that canal water reduces dependency on groundwater, which helps stabilize groundwater levels and lowers electricity consumption for tube wells.
Previously, only 68% of available dam water was utilized, with 38% being wasted. However, in the last three years, the government has increased this utilization to 84%, with a target of reaching 100% soon. He urged farmers to maximize the use of canal water, as it leads to healthier crops and lower farming costs.
For better irrigation, minister inaugurates 24 KM concrete lining Section of Second Patiala Feeder; completed in record time. MLA Payal Manjinder Singh Gyaspura, MLA Amargarh Pro. Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra MLA Nabha Gurdev Singh Dev Mann, Chairman of the District Planning Committee Malerkotla, Sakeb Ali Raja, along with senior officials from the irrigation department, including SE Sukhjeet Singh Bhullar, Executive Engineer Kirandeep Kaur, and SDOs Ashish Kumar and Gurpreet Singh were also present.
