Ending a nearly four-decade-long irrigation crisis in Punjab’s drought-prone Kandi belt, the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led state government has successfully restored canal water supply to tail-end farms, offering long-awaited relief to thousands of farmers in the hilly region. With the completion of a major revamp of the Kandi Canal system at a cost of ₹238.90 crore, canal irrigation has now reached 433 villages and is covering around 1.25 lakh acres of agricultural land, marking a major turnaround in Punjab’s irrigation scenario.
Sharing details of the achievement, Water Resources and Soil & Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said the revival of canal irrigation has been a top governance priority for the Mann government. He said that between 2022 and 2025, the Punjab government has invested more than ₹4,557 crore in canal irrigation works, which is nearly two-and-a-half times the ₹2,046 crore spent during the previous government’s tenure from 2019 to 2022. This enhanced investment, he said, reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening water security and supporting farmers.
The Minister said the impact of these efforts is now clearly visible on the ground. In several areas of the Kandi belt, farmers who had lost hope of receiving canal water are now getting assured irrigation after almost 40 years. The return of canal water is expected to reduce dependence on rainfall and groundwater, improve crop productivity and bring stability to farming in the region.
Explaining the background, Barinder Kumar Goyal said the Kandi Canal system, which has a carrying capacity of 463 cusecs and stretches over 129 kilometres from Talwara to Balachaur, had deteriorated badly over the years. Although the canal was constructed in phases, with the Talwara to Hoshiarpur section completed in 1998 and the Hoshiarpur to Balachaur section in 2016, widespread leakage and seepage meant that water failed to reach tail-end areas. The present government addressed this long-pending issue by investing ₹238.90 crore to ensure uninterrupted canal flow from Talwara to Balachaur.
As a result, the revived canal system is now benefiting 433 villages across Hoshiarpur and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar districts. Areas such as Dasuya, Mukerian, Tanda-Urmar, Sham Churasi, Hoshiarpur, Chabbewal, Garhshankar and Balachaur are now receiving canal water, irrigating around 1.25 lakh acres of farmland.
Under Kandi Canal Stage-1, concrete lining of the canal from Talwara to Hoshiarpur has been completed at a cost of ₹120 crore. To further improve water distribution, earthen watercourses were restored and 11 distributaries spanning 61 kilometres were rejuvenated. These works have benefited 203 villages in Hoshiarpur district and brought irrigation to about 28,500 acres. In addition, an underground pipeline distribution project covering over 417 kilometres, costing ₹58.78 crore, is nearing completion.
In Kandi Canal Stage-2, between Hoshiarpur and Balachaur, six flow distributaries with a total length of around 42 kilometres have been restored. These works are providing irrigation facilities to 72 villages across Hoshiarpur and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar districts, covering nearly 18,800 acres of agricultural land.
The Minister also said that five old lift irrigation schemes, meant to supply water to elevated areas but lying defunct for years, have been completely overhauled at a cost of ₹34 crore. These revived lift schemes are now serving 38 villages and irrigating about 11,576 acres that were earlier fully dependent on rainfall. In addition, five new lift schemes have been installed at a cost of ₹11.62 crore, bringing canal water to another 1,500 acres.
To support groundwater recharge, the government has constructed recharge structures on five defunct government tubewells at a cost of ₹20 lakh. Besides this, 24 ponds have been developed with an expenditure of ₹5.16 crore and are being periodically replenished with canal water. In an important environmental step, 18 seasonal streams, known locally as choes, have been connected to the canal system at a cost of ₹4.18 crore to allow controlled release of water for groundwater recharge.
Canal water is also now being supplied to industrial units in the region, a move aimed at reducing groundwater extraction while generating additional revenue for the state. The Minister further said that 13 low earthen dams in Hoshiarpur and S.A.S. Nagar districts have been restored at a cost of ₹11.50 crore after their distribution systems had deteriorated.
Looking ahead, Barinder Kumar Goyal said the Kathgarh lift scheme is being implemented in three phases. The first phase is expected to become operational next month and will provide canal water to about 5,000 acres across several villages. The remaining two phases will be completed next year and will extend irrigation facilities to an additional 9,000 acres.
He added that the department is gradually replacing deep tubewells with lift irrigation schemes to reduce pressure on Punjab’s rapidly depleting groundwater resources. With canal water finally reaching the tail-end areas of the Kandi belt after four decades, the Mann government has delivered a long-overdue correction to Punjab’s irrigation system, reinforcing its commitment to farmers, water security and sustainable agriculture.
