Minister Brinder Kumar Goyal : The Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, has presented a ₹28 crore gift to farmers in the Jalalabad Assembly constituency. Water Resources Minister Brinder Kumar Goyal inaugurated a newly constructed canal and laid the foundation stone for another, accompanied by MLA Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Brinder Kumar Goyal announced that the Suhele Wala Rajbaha Main Branch canal, previously operating at 11.55 cusecs, has been expanded to a capacity of 36.35 cusecs, with its length increased from 3.33 kilometers to 13.96 kilometers. He emphasized that this project had been stalled for four decades due to neglect by previous governments, but the current administration has successfully completed its construction.
The minister stated that the canal would provide irrigation to 5,500 acres across nine villages, including Chak Suhele Wala, Chak Janishar, Laddhu Wala Uttar, Chak Dhab Khushhal Johian, Chak Panj Kohi, Chak Kabar Wala, Chak Ghulam Rasul Wala, Chak Balochaan, and Bahmani Wala. The project, which cost ₹23.06 crore, also includes infrastructure for underground pipelines, bridges, siphons, regulators, and canal crossings.
Additionally, Minister Brinder Kumar Goyal laid the foundation stone for the Chaudhry Minor canal at Village Tahliwala Bodla. This canal, which had remained blocked since 1969, will now be rebuilt with a length of 5 kilometers and a capacity of 18.26 cusecs. The government has allocated ₹5.18 crore for this project, which will supply canal water to 2,743 acres in villages such as Ghatianwali Jattan, Ghatianwali Bodlan, Chahla, Tahliwala Bodlan, Singhpura, and Islam Wala.
Criticizing past administrations for politicizing irrigation without taking action, the minister affirmed that the Mann government is committed to ensuring water reaches the tail-end of the canal network. He also highlighted that improved canal irrigation would aid in groundwater conservation.
Furthermore, Minister Brinder Kumar Goyal revealed that a ₹27 crore project has been initiated in the Arniwala region to address water logging, aiming to resolve the issue in 29 villages within two years.
Speaking at the event, MLA Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy praised the Mann government’s consistent efforts to complete long-pending projects for public benefit.
₹687 Crore Ferozepur Feeder Canal Renovation
Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal also announced a ₹687 crore project to renovate the Ferozepur Feeder Canal. Once approved by the Union Government, construction will commence to ensure an ample water supply to farmers in Harike Pattan, Fazilka, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Ferozepur, and Faridkot districts. He noted that while previous governments utilized only 68% of available water for agriculture, the Mann administration has increased usage to 84%.
The event was attended by prominent leaders, including Balluana MLA Amandeep Singh Goldy Musafir, Fazilka MLA Narinder Pal Singh Sawna, former Abohar MLA Arun Narang, and district officials such as Deputy Commissioner Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu and SSP Varinder Singh Brar.