 "Punjab, known as the country's grain bowl with over 80 per cent of its land under irrigation, recorded the second highest farmers suicides in 2015, after Maharashtra")
Punjab government on Sunday said that the Centre has sanctioned two projects in the state under 'Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna' which will bring an additional 1.74 lakh hectares under irrigation.
The Union Water Resources Ministry has accorded approval to Kandi Canal Stage-1 and Bist Doab canal so that the farmers of Punjab can get the best irrigation facilities, said state Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon.
Rs 551.87 crore has been sanctioned for Bist Doab canal irrigation project. With this, 1,55,085 hectares in Jalandhar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr), Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts will be brought under irrigation facilities, he said.
The Centre has also given nod to Rs 73.44 crore Kandi Canal Stage-1 irrigation project. With its approval, 19,867 hectare Barani area of Hoshiarpur district will have access to irrigation facilities, Dhillon added.
