Punjab govt announce project for lining irrigation channels

Punjab government today announced a Rs 929-crore project for brick-lining all the irrigation channels falling in 561 villages of four districts of the state.
The four districts where the work will be carried out are Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur and Barnala.
"A detailed project has been prepared. The project will cost Rs 929 crore and benefit 6.65 lakh acres of agricultural land falling in these districts," said Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon.
Under this project, all irrigation channels of Kotla Branch of Sirhand Canal would be brick-lined. The irrigation channels to be brick-lined run over 5,000 km in length.
Dhillon informed that he had raised the issue in his recent meeting with Union Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharti.

He thanked the Centre for clearing the project on priority basis. It is expected to be completed by March 2017.
"The farmers of our agrarian state will get water for irrigation purposes more efficiently, he said adding that it was a long pending demand of the crop cultivators.
Kahan Singh Pannu, Secretary, Irrigation Department, Punjab, informed that the cost of this project would be shared on 50:50 basis between the Punjab and the Centre.