Several villages in Sri Chamkaur Sahib tehsil of Ropar district are set to receive long-awaited relief with the launch of a canal-based lift irrigation project at Oind on Thursday. Punjab Water Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal announced that the scheme will supply canal water to areas that have so far relied on depleting groundwater, leaving many small farmers dependent on others for irrigation.
Background of the Project
Despite major canals such as the Sirhind Canal and Bhakra Main Line Canal passing through the region, several villages had remained deprived of irrigation facilities, Goyal said. The Rs 44.8 crore project is expected to irrigate around 4,500 acres across villages including Sri Chamkaur Sahib, Sallomajra, Gaggon, Gadhram Khurd, Gadhram Kalan, Pippalmajra, Rurki, Talapur, Dugri, Kotli, Kamalpur, and Rampur Bet.
Technical Details
Under the scheme, water will be lifted from the Samrala Minor of the Bhakra Main Line Canal near Oind and routed to a distribution network via a main pipeline and storage tank at Gaggon, covering multiple villages. This infrastructure will ensure efficient water supply to the command area.
Impact on Farmers
The project is expected to significantly reduce the dependency on groundwater, which has been depleting rapidly in the region. Small farmers, who previously had to rely on others for irrigation, will now have direct access to canal water, improving agricultural productivity and livelihoods.
