CHANDIGARH: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday said that his government’s canal irrigation drive is transforming the Punjab’s agricultural landscape, boosting paddy productivity and reversing groundwater depletion, with the groundwater table rising by four metres. Calling canal water “desi ghee for Punjab’s crops,” he said that 18,000 cusecs of water was now reaching agricultural fields, supported by 14,000 kilometres of underground pipelines, with another 6,000 kilometres planned to extend the network. He said that the government’s mission was to bring canal water to every field, protect precious groundwater reserves and secure the future of Punjab’s farmers.
Taking to X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “Discussed key issues concerning the protection of Punjab’s farming community and democracy during the 13th Session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Our efforts to ensure canal water reaches agricultural fields have yielded significant results.
Participating in a discussion in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that providing canal water to farmers is not merely an irrigation initiative; it is a decisive step towards protecting Punjab’s agricultural future, conserving our precious natural resources and safeguarding the interests of generations to come.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “Our sustained efforts have increased canal-water utilisation from 22% in 2022 to over 80% today. In some areas, canal water has reached villages where people had not seen it flowing through their fields for nearly 80 years. This is not just a change in the irrigation system; it is a change in the lives of our hardworking and resilient farmers.”
The Chief Minister affirmed, “Every drop of groundwater saved today is an investment in the future of our farmers and our children. We want our farmers to have reliable access to irrigation without being forced to chase water deeper and deeper underground. Our mission is clear: every field in Punjab should have access to canal water, and we will continue working towards 100% utilisation of available canal water.”
