Canal Administration
About Us
Canal Administration is primarily responsible for operation and maintenance of a very well developed and widespread 14500 Kms long canal system and 5 Head Works. Total cultivable command area in Punjab is 42.90 lac hectare out of which 30.88 lac hectare has been brought under command of canals networks (In addition to pre-partition utilization of 32MAF in Shahnehar Canal System).
The total river water allocated to Punjab is 14.22 MAF which is distributed to command area through 7 main canal system namely Sirhind Canal System, Bist Doab Canal system , UBDC system , Sirhind Feeder System , Eastern Canal system, Bhakra Main line System and Shahnehar Canal System.
The canal infrastructure which was developed in pre independence and post independence period as per details:
Canal irrigation systems in Punjab comprise of
- Sirhind Canal system
- Bist Doab Canal system
- Bhakra Main Line (BML) Canal System
- Upper Bari Doab Canal system, Kashmir Canal
- Ferozepur Feeder/Sirhind Feeder system
- Eastern Canal system
- Makhu Canal System
- Shahnehar Canal system
- Kashmir Canal system.
- The Rajasthan Feeder and Bikaner Canal which carry Ravi-Beas water exclusively for Rajasthan run a considerable length over Punjab Territory.
Objectives
Water is the most essential natural resource, a basic human need and the most important input for all human development activity. The main objective of the Admn is to develop, plan, utilize and manage this important resource for irrigation in a judicious, equitable, sustainable and sound economic manner.
An Act to regulate irrigation, namely ‘Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 has been enacted for this purpose.
Projects
Rehabilitation/Remodeling of the following canals is in progress:-
- Project for rehabilitation of Ist Patiala Feeder and Kotla Branch:-
- Conversion of Banur canal from Non perennial to perennial
- Rehabilitation/ Remodeling/ Construction/ Extension of 74 distributaries and Minors.
New Projects
The following projects have been submitted to Central Water Commission, New Delhi for technical appraisal.
| Estimated Cost ( Rs.) | |
| 1.Relining of Rajasthan Feeder |
Rs.889.95 Crore |
| 2.Relining of Sirhind Feeder |
Rs. 363.50 Crore |
| 3.Extension, Renovation and Modernization of canals being fed from River Sutlej | |
| Bathinda Branch | Rs. 213.21 Crore |
| Abohar Branch | Rs. 187.96 Crore |
| Sidhwan Branch | Rs. 92.96 Crore |
| Bist Doab Canal system | Rs. 187.54Crore |
| Sub Total | Rs. 681.67 Crore |
| TOTAL | Rs. 1935.127 Crore |
The technical appraisal is in final stage. The projects are proposed to be taken up during 2009-10 with financial assistance from Govt. of India.