Mann Govt Claims 3x Rise In Water Coverage In 4 Years
March 19, 2026: Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday said the Aam Aadmi Party government has significantly expanded irrigation in Punjab over the past four years by reviving canal networks and unlocking water from seasonal rivers. Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, he said canal irrigation coverage has surged from 26.5% in 2022 to nearly 78% now, bringing around 58 lakh acres under irrigation—almost three times the earlier level.
The Chief Minister highlighted that over Rs 6,700 crore has been spent on canal repair, lining, and modernisation, alongside restoring nearly 13,000 km of canals and thousands of water channels. He said more than 15,000 canals have been cleaned and over 18,000 watercourses revived, ensuring water supply even to tail-end farms. Mann added that 101 long-abandoned canals have been brought back into use, helping generate an additional 10,000 cusecs of water—equivalent to creating a new Bhakra Canal without acquiring land.
He also pointed to major infrastructure upgrades, including increased capacity of the Sirhind and Ferozepur canals, along with the completion of the Shahpur Kandi Dam. The government has ended the traditional rotational water supply system, ensuring daily access for farmers, and expanded irrigation to around 1,400 villages for the first time. Alongside improving groundwater conservation and flood management, the state is also developing tourism around canal sites, aiming to combine agricultural growth with economic opportunities.