Bhagwant Mann govt boosts Kandi Region Irrigation, brings canal water to higher lands, benefits 33 villages and 11,500 acres, farmers gain productivity.
Punjab Water Resources and Soil and Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal announced a historic breakthrough in Kandi Region Irrigation, asserting that the Bhagwant Mann-led government is fulfilling all promises without discrimination. The initiative brings canal water to higher altitudes for the first time, turning previously dry and rain-fed lands into productive agricultural areas.
Addressing the inauguration of the ₹214 crore Kathgarh Lift Irrigation Scheme, Barinder Kumar Goyal emphasized that Kandi Region Irrigation projects demonstrate the government’s pro-farmer approach, linking higher water utilisation with large-scale infrastructure investment and long-term economic benefits for farmers. The scheme will provide irrigation to 11,500 acres across 33 villages, significantly boosting agricultural productivity and farmers’ income.
The minister detailed that the project is being executed in three phases. The first phase, covering 4,000 acres in 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 finish by September 2026, while the third phase, with an outlay of ₹40 crore, will cover 2,000 acres in 6 villages. A 650 kW solar plant has also been installed to minimise electricity costs.
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Highlighting technical aspects, Goyal noted that the scheme is linked to the Bist Doab Canal, with a discharge capacity of 67 cusecs. Pumps lift water and deliver it through an extensive pipeline network to high, low, and semi-hilly fields, ensuring comprehensive coverage. No land acquisition was required as existing departmental land was used for pump houses.
“Before this project, irrigation in the Kandi region was limited, leaving farmers heavily dependent on rainfall. With the Kathgarh Lift Irrigation Scheme, Kandi Region Irrigation has now reached tail-end areas, restoring water access to 39,705 acres across 105 villages and benefiting over 128,740 acres after three decades of neglect,” he added.
The minister also highlighted broader achievements of the government, including spending ₹6,700 crore to strengthen irrigation infrastructure, increasing water utilisation from 22% to 78%, improving groundwater levels, reducing electricity consumption, and enhancing soil fertility. Welfare initiatives, such as free healthcare with insurance coverage up to ₹10 lakh and 600 units of free electricity, are being implemented alongside irrigation projects.
Barinder Kumar Goyal concluded that Kandi Region Irrigation initiatives are a milestone for Punjab’s farmers, ensuring equitable water distribution, enhanced crop productivity, and long-term agricultural sustainability under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
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