RS 1441 crore be incurred on relining of Rajanstan and Sirhind Canals: Thandal

Hoshiarpur, August 21, 2013: The Punjab Government has formulated a  comprehensive plan for the rehabilitation of Rajasthan and Sirhind canals, incurrimg an amoune t of Rs. 1441 crore on the relining of both these important canals of the state.

This was stated  by  Sohan Singh Thandal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Irrigation, Punjab by adding that tenders for the relining work are shortly being floated and the relining of the canals would be completed in four years.

He said that Punjab Chief Minister  Parkash Singh Badal is deeply concerned about the pollution of the canals through the contaminated water being flushed out by the industrial units. He said that C.M has already issued directives for the pollution control board to check the pollution in the canals.  Thandal said that sewerage treatment plants are being setup in the state to recycle the contaminated water for the purpose of irrigation.

He said that the Agriculture Sector in Doaba region is all set to get a big boost with the 6 fold increase in the irrigation capacity of Bist Doab Canal and its all distributaries with the cost of Rs. 211 crore.

This prestigious project would witness a massive transformation in the irrigation potential of the the Bist Doab Canal System from present capacity of 30364 hectares to 172981 hectares.

Thandal said that, the government has also sanctioned a rehabilitation of syphon aqueduct at Jalandhar Branch that was damaged during the floods that would increase the irrigation area by 158416 acres.