Punjab begins 'rehablitation' of old canal system

Chandigarh, Oct 10 (UNI) The Punjab Government has decided to rehablitate (repair) the first Patiala Feeder and Kotla Branch canals at a cost of Rs 123.30 crore which would cover 500 villages of Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Barnala and Patiala districts.

Disclosing this here today Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon said that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would lay foundation stone of this historic project on October 12.

Mr Sekhon said that the project would lead to increased capacity of the two canals by 30 per cent. Around four lakh farmers would benefit from the increased water discharge from the two canals.

The scheme involves strengthening the lining of 24 Km of the first Patiala Feeder and 130 Km length of Kotla Branch.

The water carrying capacity of the Patiala Feeder had been reduced to 3600 cusecs due to wear and tear of the canal over the years. This canal was designed to carry 4010 cusecs of water and after rehabilitation its capacity would be increased to 4914 cusecs.

Likewise the discharge of water in the Kotla Branch had come down to 2550 cusecs from 3018 cusecs at the time of its inseption.

After rehabilitation the capacity would increase to 3304 cusecs.

Around 2,65,485 hectares of land is irrigated by these two canals which also provide drinking water facilities to a number of villages and towns.

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