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Punjab News: Announcing a big relief for the farmers before the paddy season, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that canal water will be made available for irrigation from May 1 itself, for which 21,000 cusecs of water will be released in the canals across the state, which will eliminate Punjab’s heavy dependence on underground water. With an investment of Rs 6,700 crore in irrigation infrastructure, 14,000 km of pipeline network and 7,000 newly constructed Rajbahas and Kasis, the Bhagwant Mann government has coupled this brilliant move with an 8-hour power supply schedule in four zones to streamline sowing.

The move not only ensures irrigation for paddy, but also secures canal water availability for cotton, horticulture and fodder maize in the Malwa region, while providing tangible benefits in groundwater recharge, with levels rising by 2 to 4 metres, signaling a structural change in the state’s water management strategy.

Major reforms in water resources and agriculture

“During the press conference in Chandigarh today, important information was shared about Punjab’s water resources, agriculture and the bright future of the youth. Our main objective is to reduce the use of groundwater and ensure that canal water reaches every farm,” Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on Twitter.

He further said, “A historic investment of Rs 6,700 crore has been made in irrigation infrastructure. With the construction of 14,000 km of new pipelines and 4,000 km of new canals this season, full water will be released into the canals from May 1. Areas falling at the tail end like Fazilka and Abohar will also get water by May 2. Due to efforts to recharge water, the water level under the ground has increased by two to four meters. Along with this, to save electricity and ensure convenience for the labourers, direct sowing will start from May 15 and the supply of canal water will be provided in a phased manner. I also want to clarify that all possible assistance will be given to the people being sent back from Australia.

Emphasis on benefits to farmers and water conservation

He said in the post, “The government is fully committed to providing employment to the youth and securing the future of the coming generations by saving every drop of water in the state.”

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “For the first time, water is being released in the state from May 1 to benefit the farmers of Punjab,” he stressed, “Our government is committed to saving every drop of water. Not even a single drop of water has been given extra to any other state, nor is any water being sent to Pakistan.”

Big investment on irrigation improvements and canal water

Talking about the shift towards sustainable irrigation means, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “We have ensured that dependence on canal water is increased so that the pressure on tube wells can be reduced,” adding, “Till March 2026, the Punjab government has spent Rs 6,700 crore on irrigation works across Punjab.”

Giving more details, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “This amount has been used to lay 14,000 km of pipes and construct cisterns across the state,” adding, “Ahead of this paddy season, 4,000 km of newly constructed Rajbahas and 3,000 km of pipelines will be commissioned,” he said, adding, “21,000 cusecs of water will be released into these pipelines and cisterns so that they can be examined and any The deficiency can be removed.”

Farmers of Malwa region get big benefit from canal water

Speaking about the scale of the initiative, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The water being released is equivalent to the supply of two Bhakra canals and will greatly benefit the farmers,” adding, “It will especially help farmers in the Malwa region to prepare fields for orchards and sowing of crops like cotton, maize and fodder as well as paddy cultivation.”

Emphasis on groundwater conservation and water recharge

Emphasizing on its long-term benefits, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “This water will also help in recharging the groundwater through various recharge schemes, which will benefit the coming generations,” adding, “Horticulture, especially in Fazilka and Abohar areas, will benefit as they will no longer have to depend on tube wells.”

Throwing light on groundwater conservation, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Recharge points have been created in canals and rivers, resulting in an increase of two to four meters in the water level,” adding, “This decision has been taken with the aim of securing the future of the coming generations because the existence of Punjab depends on its water and without water the state has no intelligence.”

Water Recharge and Paddy Cultivation Scheme

Sharing other achievements, the Chief Minister said, “It is a matter of pride that as a result of the efforts of the Punjab government, 21 lakh cubic meters of water has been recharged in the last one year.”

Regarding the crop plan, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “To avoid difficulties in selling paddy to farmers due to high moisture content in October, the Punjab government has decided to start procurement of paddy from June 1,” he further said, “Zone-wise cultivation of paddy will be done with proper planning and management.”

Phased program of paddy sowing announced in Punjab

The Chief Minister said, “Direct sowing of paddy will start in all the districts from May 15, for which there will be eight hours of uninterrupted power supply,” he further said, “From June 1, paddy sowing will start in Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ropar, SAS Nagar, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib and Hoshiarpur,” he further said, “From June 5, Faridkot, “Sowing will start in Bathinda, Firozpur, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka and from June 9 it will start in Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Mansa, Moga, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.”