Canal Reboot: ₹180-Crore Project to Power Punjab’s Malwa Region

The ₹180-crore Ferozepur Feeder Canal project has been relaunched to strengthen irrigation infrastructure and give a fresh impetus to Punjab’s agrarian economy.

Inaugurating the first phase at Makhu on 25 February 2026, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann described the canal as the lifeline of the Malwa region. He said the reconstruction and relining works would significantly benefit farmers in Ferozepur district, Faridkot district, Sri Muktsar Sahib district, and Fazilka district. Originally constructed in 1952, the canal had not undergone any major capacity enhancement for 74 years, resulting in structural deterioration and reduced water flow, particularly during the Kharif season.

The upgraded canal, originating from the Harike Headworks, has seen its carrying capacity increase from 11,192 cusecs to 13,873 cusecs. Its depth has been enhanced from 18 feet to 21 feet and width from 163 feet to 180 feet. Completed in record time with extensive manpower deployment, the project is expected to improve irrigation across 14 blocks and ensure water supply to over 6.45 lakh hectares, including border areas near Fazilka and Jalalabad.

The Chief Minister said that when his government assumed office, canal water reached only 21% of the state’s farmland, compared to 68% at present, with a target of 85% coverage by the upcoming paddy season. He attributed the progress to large-scale rejuvenation of the canal network, noting that ₹6,500 crore has been spent on strengthening irrigation infrastructure. According to him, 6,900 km of water channels and 18,349 watercourses have been revived, extending supply to tail-end villages, while 1,365 villages have received canal water for the first time.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.