Punjab becomes first state to launch MCAD project

Ludhiana, May 21, 2026: An awareness camp regarding Modern Command Area Development (MCAD) project covering 1388 hectares was organized in village Rauni on Thursday.
The officials of the department of Water Resources, district administration, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Central Water Commission, technical experts, and a large number of farmers present during the camp. 
Superintending Engineer (Department of Water Resources) Navjot Singh informed that the primary objective of the awareness camp was to educate farmers from Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Malerkotla districts about the project before the commencement of implementation work. The project will incorporate advanced technologies such as SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and Internet of Things (IoT), enabling farmers to receive real-time irrigation-related information through mobile applications. He further explained that the technology-driven system would help conserve water while ensuring equal water pressure and supply to farmers located at the tail-end of canal networks, similar to those situated at the head-end.
Singh also informed that the project will cover approximately 1388 hectares across six villages in three districts. Four villages from Ludhiana— Bharthala, Rauni, Devipur, and Mullanpur — along with Pahedi village in Fatehgarh Sahib and Dhiro Majra village in Malerkotla have been included under the project, especially as these villages previously lacked canal irrigation facilities. He emphasized that the project would not only provide better irrigation facilities but also help conserve groundwater and improve crop productivity due to the mineral-rich canal water supplied to agricultural fields.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Jashanpreet Kaur Gill highlighted that groundwater levels in Punjab are continuously declining, posing serious challenges for agriculture in the coming years. She stated that this poject would serve as a significant solution by enabling higher agricultural productivity with lower water consumption.
Assistant Director from the Ministry of Jal Shakti Amit Lohan, said that the government is committed to promoting water conservation and modern agricultural technologies. He explained that the primary objective of the MCAD Project is to make canal and irrigation systems more efficient so that water reaches every farm on time and according to requirement, thereby reducing wastage and lowering farmers’ costs.
Experts at the seminar also discussed efficient water management practices in detail. Farmers were informed about advanced irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, and sensor-based irrigation technologies, which can significantly reduce water usage while increasing crop productivity.
Agriculture department officials stated that the MCAD would provide long-term benefits to the farming sector by ensuring timely irrigation, increasing agricultural production, improving farmers’ income, and reducing dependence on tube wells, thereby also contributing to electricity savings.