Punjab Escalates Water Dues Demand Against Rajasthan as Irrigation Coverage Expands
As Punjab prepares for the crucial paddy transplantation season, Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal has made a significant announcement regarding the state's irrigation capabilities while simultaneously intensifying a long-standing financial dispute with neighboring Rajasthan.
During a media briefing at his Lehragaga office on Monday, Minister Goyal revealed that canal irrigation coverage in Punjab is projected to reach an impressive 86% before this year's paddy season commences. This marks a dramatic improvement from the 26.5% coverage recorded in 2022, which had already increased to 78% in subsequent years.
Decades-Old Financial Dispute Takes Center Stage
Alongside this irrigation progress report, Goyal renewed Punjab's longstanding demand for approximately Rs 1.4 lakh crore from Rajasthan, representing unpaid water dues that have accumulated since 1960. The minister issued a stern ultimatum, stating that Rajasthan must either release Punjab's legitimate dues or cease using its water resources entirely.
The historical context of this dispute traces back to a 1920s agreement between the Bikaner princely state, undivided Punjab, and the British government, which established that Rajasthan would pay for water on a per-acre basis. While payments were consistently made until 1960, they ceased following the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, despite Rajasthan continuing to draw approximately 18,000 cusecs of water through the Ferozepur Feeder without compensation.
Substantial Infrastructure Investments Yield Results
Minister Goyal detailed the extensive infrastructure improvements that have enabled Punjab's irrigation transformation. Since April 2022, the state government has invested approximately Rs 6,700 crore in comprehensive canal modernization efforts, including:
- Canal lining, repair, and strengthening projects
- Construction and repair of nearly 13,000 kilometers of canals
- Restoration of 7,000 watercourses
- Cleaning of 15,539 canals
- Rejuvenation of 18,349 water channels
These improvements have expanded Punjab's canal irrigation capacity from irrigating just 20.89 lakh acres in March 2022 to currently reaching 58 lakh acres, with the state possessing the infrastructure to irrigate approximately 75.9 lakh acres total.
Revival of Abandoned Water Systems Creates "New Bhakra Canal"
One of the most remarkable achievements highlighted by Minister Goyal was the revival of 101 abandoned canals spanning 545 kilometers, many of which had remained non-functional for 30 to 40 years and were filled with silt. This restoration effort alone has created what the minister described as a "new Bhakra canal" without requiring any land acquisition, as it provides water flow equivalent to the capacity of the Bhakra Main Line.
Additional infrastructure enhancements include:
- Upgrading the Sirhind Canal to increase its capacity by 2,844 cusecs
- Lining major canals such as Sirhind and Patiala to enhance water availability by approximately 1.5 million acre-feet (MAF)
- Restoring seasonal streams that brought 2.75 lakh additional acres under canal irrigation
- Reviving old canal systems that now deliver an extra 10,000 cusecs of water to agricultural fields
Flood Management and Environmental Initiatives
Beyond irrigation improvements, Minister Goyal outlined significant investments in disaster management and environmental restoration. The state government has allocated Rs 477 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund for 195 projects focused on flood control and water management.
In a related development, Goyal laid the foundation stone for a Rs 6.46 crore project at Makrour Sahib to further strengthen and raise the embankments of the Ghaggar river. This follows previous investments of Rs 4 crore in Ghaggar embankment strengthening, which proved effective during the 2025 floods when the river remained above the danger mark for ten consecutive days yet caused minimal impact on surrounding communities.
The minister also highlighted the completion of the Shahpur Kandi Dam project, which had been pending for over 25 years and was finally completed at a cost of Rs 3,394.49 crore. This critical infrastructure project will improve the efficiency of the Ranjit Sagar Dam while helping prevent Punjab's valuable water resources from flowing into Pakistan.
Comprehensive Water Management Strategy
Minister Goyal emphasized that Punjab's approach extends beyond infrastructure to encompass broader environmental and economic considerations. The state government has identified 199 desilting sites and deployed new chain-mounted machines for large-scale drain cleaning operations.
Furthermore, Punjab has implemented a rational mining policy designed to ensure proper management of natural resources while generating economic benefits for the state. This comprehensive strategy reflects the government's commitment to sustainable water management that balances agricultural needs, environmental protection, and economic development.
The minister's announcements underscore Punjab's dual focus on expanding irrigation access for its agricultural sector while vigorously pursuing financial claims related to water resources that have been utilized by neighboring states for decades without compensation.
