Haryana to spend Rs 116 cr to repair canals

The Planning Commission has approved a project worth Rs 116 crore for rehabilitation and modernisation of critically damaged irrigation canals in Haryana.

"The project proposal includes rehabilitation, renovation and modernisation of 36 critically damaged channels of Bhakra canal system, 74 damaged channels of Lift canal system and 27 critically damaged channels of Western Yamuna canal system," it said.

The project is to be completed within the next financial year, an official release said. The scheme would involve additional irrigation of 31,646 hectares, taking the proposed total irrigation in the command area after modernisation to 2,72,091 hectare. 

“The project authority will seek the approval of the Command Area Development Plan from the Planning Commission," the release said.Implementation of the command area development works would be monitored by the Planning Commission. Haryana is largely an agricultural economy. For better yields it is important that crops are well irrigated. Canals are the main source of irrigation in the state. Haryana has a network of canals that helps farmers in cultivation.