📌 Highlights
- Punjab Water Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal inaugurated the ₹214 crore Kathgarh Lift Irrigation Scheme, bringing canal water to higher altitudes in the Kandi belt for the very first time.
- The project will irrigate nearly 11,500 acres across 33 villages, supported by a 650 kW solar plant to cut electricity costs.
- Under the Mann government, canal water utilisation has risen from 22% to 78%, with ₹6,700 crore invested in irrigation infrastructure statewide.
Chandigarh / Kathgarh (SBS Nagar) | March 19, 2026: In a historic milestone for Punjab’s long-neglected Kandi belt, Punjab Water Resources and Soil and Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Wednesday inaugurated the Kathgarh Lift Irrigation Scheme, developed at a cost of ₹214 crore. For the first time, canal water has been successfully lifted and delivered to higher altitude areas of the Kandi region — transforming dry, rain-fed land into irrigated agricultural opportunity.
11,500 Acres Across 33 Villages to Benefit From the Scheme
The project will provide assured irrigation facilities to nearly 11,500 acres of agricultural land across 33 villages, paving the way for enhanced crop productivity and increased farmer income. The initiative is expected to significantly improve land value in the region by enabling farmers to cultivate better crops on previously unirrigated terrain.
The scheme is being executed in three phases. The first phase, covering 4,000 acres across 13 villages, was completed in February 2026 at a cost of ₹67 crore. The second phase, costing ₹107 crore, will cover 5,500 acres in 14 villages and is expected to be completed by September 2026. The third phase, with an outlay of ₹40 crore, will extend irrigation to 2,000 acres in 6 more villages. A 650 kW solar plant has also been installed to minimise the electricity burden on the project.
“The Kathgarh Lift Irrigation Scheme will serve as a milestone in extending irrigation to areas that remained deprived due to elevation challenges. The project will significantly reduce dependence on groundwater and bring long-term benefits to the region.”
— Barinder Kumar Goyal, Punjab Water Resources Minister
Advanced Technology, IIT-Trained Staff and Mission-Mode Execution
The scheme has been connected to the Bist Doab Canal with a discharge capacity of 67 cusecs. Water is lifted through pumps and supplied via an extensive pipeline network to high, low and semi-hilly agricultural fields. Notably, no land acquisition was required as existing departmental land was utilised for the pump house.
Advanced satellite and drone surveys were conducted to design the project, and technical staff were trained at IIT Roorkee and IIT Ropar. The entire scheme was executed in mission mode within just six months. Around 94,000 kilometres of pipelines have been laid to ensure efficient water delivery to fields.
Before this project, irrigation was available across 28,205 acres in 72 villages of Balachaur constituency. With the completion of this scheme, irrigation coverage will expand to 39,705 acres across 105 villages.
Reiterating the commitment of the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government, Minister Goyal said the state has spent ₹6,700 crore so far to strengthen irrigation infrastructure. Canal water utilisation for irrigation has jumped from 22% to 78%, contributing to improved groundwater levels, reduced electricity consumption and enhanced soil fertility across Punjab.
