Barinder Kumar Goyal inaugurates four minors and bridge in Sardulgarh constituency constructed at cost of around Rs.15-CR

Says, immense increase ensured in irrigation facilities in Sardulgarh constituency

Previous governments divided Punjab and its waters for their personal gains: Cabinet Minister

"Instead of giving advice, union government should fulfill its duty to save Punjab's waters"

Chandigarh/Mansa, March 31:

Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal, on Monday, inaugurated four newly constructed minors and a bridge in Sardulgarh constituency of Mansa district. These projects, completed at a cost of approximately Rs.15 crore, will further enhance irrigation facilities in this region.

Speaking to journalists after dedicating these projects to the public, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said that while four minors - Rorki Minor, Khaira Minor, Jhanda Minor and Minor No-11 Boha Distributary - have been completed at a cost of Rs.12.82-CR, a bridge of historical significance has been constructed at a cost of Rs.2.10-CR.

He said that Rorki Minor has a total length of 45,125 feet and will provide drinking and irrigation water to villages including Ahlupur, Kauriwara, Bhallanwala, Sardulgarh, Phoosmandi, Ranjitgarh Bandran, Khaira Khurd, Bhundar, Rorki, Jhanda Khurd, Sadhuwala, Meerpur Khurd, Tibbi Hari Singh and Sardulewala in the Sardulgarh block. He added that 7,636 acres of land will benefit from this. Similarly, Khaira Minor, which is 22,040 feet long, will provide drinking and irrigation water to villages including Khaira Khurd, Ahlupur, Khaira Kalan, Jhanda Kalan and Sardulgarh in the block. This minor will irrigate 1,934 acres of land. The Cabinet Minister further informed that the 19180-foot-long Jhanda Minor will provide drinking water to Mankhera and Jhanda Kalan villages in Sardulgarh block and irrigation water to 2586 acres of land. Similarly, Minor No-11 Boha Distributary, which is 22575 feet long, will provide drinking and irrigation water to villages including Meerpur Khurd, Jatana Kalan, Tibbi Hari Singh, Sardulewala and Kahnewala in Sardulgarh block, ensuring irrigation facility for 4114 acres.

During the interaction with journalists, Mr. Barinder Kumar Goyal informed that a steel foot bridge over the Ghaggar River, built at a cost of Rs.2.10-CR, was also dedicated to the public today, adding that this bridge, completed in a record time of one year, has made it easier for residents of three to four villages to cross the Ghaggar River. He added that there was an old bridge that was demolished during the 2023 floods due to water pressure. The new bridge has been designed to withstand all water levels, with a span of three meters and a length of approximately 94 meters.

In response to a question, Mr. Barinder Kumar Goyal informed that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government has so far constructed and rehabilitated around 17,565 water courses in the state and laid 4,500 kms of underground pipes. He said that in the last three years, Mann government has spent Rs.4,557 crore on canals, which is more than double the amount spent on canals during the same period by previous government.

He added that the Mann government has relined the Sirhind Feeder at a cost of Rs.35 crore for the districts of Mansa, Patiala and Sangrur. A stretch of about 25 kms was relined in just over a month and its water capacity has been increased from 900 cusecs to 1600 cusecs to bring irrigation water to the district. He informed that the state government is rationalizing water distribution.

The Cabinet Minister said that previous governments' leaders had divided Punjab's waters for their personal benefits. They took more water for their own areas and left other regions at the mercy of fate. Where these rulers had their lands, there was an abundance of water and the water allowance was set at seven cusecs in some places and six cusecs in others. He said, we are correcting the unequal distribution of water. As part of this initiative, water allocation in the district has been increased from two cusecs to three cusecs.

Taking the union government iron-handedly, the Cabinet Minister said that Punjab had extracted groundwater to feed the country. Punjab sacrificed everything to make the country self-reliant, but the union government is shirking its responsibility towards the people of Punjab. He said that today Punjab needs Rs.17000-CR to construct canals and lay underground pipes. If canals were constructed and underground pipes were laid throughout Punjab, the state could save an additional 20 percent of its water. He urged the union government to fulfill its duty to save Punjab's waters instead of wasting time giving advice.

Meanwhile, MLA Sardulgarh S. Gurpreet Singh Banawali said that bringing canal water to the fields to save groundwater was an important initiative of the Punjab government. He said that the credit for bringing canal water to the tail-ends goes to Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government. He said that the Punjab government always stands with the farmers and no stone will be left unturned in the development works of Sardulgarh constituency.

Prominent amongst others who were present included Chairman District Planning Board S. Charanjit Singh Akkanwali, Swami Vivekananda Ji, head of Dera Jassi Po Wali, Mahant Amrit Muni, head of Dera Baba Bhai Gurdas, Baba Kesar Das of Dera Baba Bhani Das, Baba Keval Das of Dera Baba Haktala and officials from various departments besides village Sarpanches and Panchs.