Lok Sabha Question No. 2875 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-08
Subject: Capacity of Indira Gandhi Feeder Canal
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Kuldeep Indora

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2875

## ANSWERED ON 08.08.2024

## CAPACITY OF INDIRA GANDHI FEEDER CANAL

## †2875.   SHRI KULDEEP INDORA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Indira Gandhi Canal Project was constructed for irrigation and drinking water purposes with a capacity of 18000 cusecs of water while its current capacity is not more than 11000 cusecs of water and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Ganga Canal was constructed in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan for the same purposes with the capacity of 11000 cusecs of water while its current capacity is not more that 9000 cusecs of water due to which the farmers are not receiving adequate water for irrigation purpose and if so, the details thereof; and (c) whether the Government proposes to formulate any concrete action plan in this regard so as to ensure that the farmers and general public do not face any water related problems and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) The Rajasthan Feeder (Indira Gandhi Feeder) originates from Harike headworks in Punjab and supplies drinking and irrigation water to the state of Rajasthan. It is constructed with a capacity of 18,500 cusecs. Over the  time  its  carrying  capacity  has  reduced.  A  committee  under  the  chairmanship  of  Member  (Design  and Research),  Central  Water  Commission  has  assessed  the  present  carrying  capacity  of  Rajasthan  Feeder  as 15,180  cusecs. The  Committee  has  further  observed  that  Rajasthan  state  requires  maximum  discharge  of 18,500  cusecs  in  the  monsoon  period  only,  and  that  too  for  few  days,  for  storing  surplus  water  from  the releases for utilising it throughout the year. Thus, to meet the requirements of the Rajasthan State, the period of carrying 15,180 cusecs discharge may be increased to compensate for less carrying capacity of the canal.

(b) As per the information provided by concerned State Governments, relining of Gang Canal (also known as Bikaner Canal) has been done between year 2001 and 2005. Further, the carrying capacity of the canal is reported to be 3,027 cusecs, which is sufficient to deliver water as per the share of Rajasthan State.

(c) Water, being a State subject, it is for the State Government concerned to formulate any concrete action plan so as to ensure that the farmers and general public do not face any water related problems. Further, it is the  State  Government  concerned  which  is  mandated  to  plan,  implement,  run  and  manage  water  resources projects  within  their  respective  jurisdiction.  Government  of  India  provides  technical  support,  and  partial financial assistance for the identified irrigation projects under its ongoing schemes.

In  September,  2018,  Government  of  India  approved  relining  of  Rajasthan  Feeder  (RD  179000  to 496000),  with  estimated  cost  of  Rs.  1,305.27  crore,  out  of  which  Rs.  620.41  crore  is  to  be  provided  by Government of India as grant. Likely date of completion of the project is June, 2025. Implementation of this project would help in addressing the problem of water logging in Muktsar, Faridkot and Ferozpur districts in South-West  Punjab,  and  help  retrieve  agriculture  land  affected  by  water  logging,  and  to  improve  land productivity. The relining also targets to conserve water to the tune of about 560 cusecs, to be used to stabilise /improve irrigation in Rajasthan.