Major Irrigation Projects and Canals of Rajasthan

1. Irrigation Profile and Classification in Rajasthan

1.1 State Hydrological Overview

Despite comprising 10.41% of India's geographical area, Rajasthan possesses merely **1.16%** of the country's surface water and **1.72%** of its groundwater resources. - **Distribution of Net Irrigated Area by Source:** 1. **Tubewells:** Approximately **48% to 50%** (Largest share; leading in Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dausa). 2. **Open Dug Wells:** Approximately **21% to 23%**. - *Combined groundwater share (wells + tubewells) exceeds 70%.* 3. **Canals:** Approximately **27% to 29%** (Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Kota, Bundi, Bikaner). 4. **Tanks / Ponds:** Merely **0.7% to 1.0%** (Bhilwara, Udaipur, Chittorgarh).

Central Water Commission (CWC) Classification Criteria:

1. **Major Irrigation Projects:** Culturable Command Area (CCA) **greater than 10,000 hectares** (e.g., IGNP, Chambal, Mahi Bajaj Sagar, Narmada, Bisalpur). 2. **Medium Irrigation Projects:** CCA between **2,000 and 10,000 hectares** (e.g., Som-Kamla-Amba, Jakham, Panchana, Meja, Parwan). 3. **Minor Irrigation Projects:** CCA **below 2,000 hectares** (Anicuts, check dams, farm ponds).

2. Indira Gandhi Canal Project - IGNP (Maruganga of Thar)

2.1 Genesis and Historical Evolution

- **Pioneering Vision:** Conceptualized in 1948 by **Rai Bahadur Kanwar Sain**, Chief Engineer of Bikaner State, in his landmark memorandum *"Water Requirements of Bikaner State"*. - **Foundation Stone:** Laid on **31 March 1958** by Union Home Minister **Govind Ballabh Pant**. - **Inaugural Water Release:** On **11 October 1961**, Vice President **Dr. S. Radhakrishnan** commissioned the Naurangdesar distributary at Hanumangarh. - **Renaming:** Originally named the 'Rajasthan Canal', rechristened **'Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojana' (IGNP)** on **2 November 1984**. 
        โ”Œโ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”
        โ”‚  Harike Barrage (Satluj + Beas confluence, Punjab)         โ”‚
        โ””โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”ฌโ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”˜
                                      โ”‚
                         Rajasthan Feeder Canal (204 km)
                   (Punjab & Haryana: 170 km + Rajasthan: 34 km)
                       [Zero Direct Irrigation - Solely Transit]
                                      โ”‚
                                      โ–ผ
                      Masitawali Head (Hanumangarh, Rajasthan Entry)
                                      โ”‚
                         Main Canal Stage I (189 km)
                                      โ”‚
                                      โ–ผ
                        Pugal Head (Chhattargarh, Bikaner)
                                      โ”‚
                         Main Canal Stage II (256 km)
                                      โ”‚
                                      โ–ผ
                        Mohangarh (Jaisalmer - Main Canal Terminus)
                                      โ”‚
                          Baba Ramdev Sub-Branch Extension
                                      โ”‚
                                      โ–ผ
                        Gadra Road (Barmer - Final Tail Point)

2.2 Engineering Architecture

1. **Rajasthan Feeder Canal:** - Total length: **204 km** (170 km in Punjab/Haryana + 34 km in Rajasthan). - Harike Barrage to Masitawali Head (Hanumangarh). - Designed exclusively for bulk conveyance; zero direct irrigation outlets. 2. **Main Canal:** - Total length: **445 km** (Stage I: 189 km up to Pugal Head + Stage II: 256 km up to Mohangarh). - The total distribution canal network exceeds **9,060 km**. 3. **Tail Extension:** - Extended beyond Mohangarh via the **Baba Ramdev Sub-Branch** to Gadra Road in Barmer.

2.3 The 7 Lift Canals of IGNP (Master Matrix)

Because topographies east (left bank) of the main canal are elevated, water is lifted through high-capacity pumping stations:
No. Present Name Original / Legacy Name Beneficiary Districts Technical Profile & Significance
1. Chaudhary Kumbharam Arya Lift Canal Nohar-Sahawa / Gandheli Lift Hanumangarh, Churu, Bikaner, Jhunjhunu Powers the 'Aapni Yojana' potable water project supported by Germany's KfW.
2. Kanwar Sain Lift Canal Bikaner-Loonkaransar Lift Bikaner & Sri Ganganagar First and longest lift canal of IGNP (151.6 km); "Lifeline of Bikaner City".
3. Panna Lal Barupal Lift Canal Gajner Lift Canal Bikaner & Nagaur Potable water to Didwana and Nawa.
4. Veer Tejaji Lift Canal Bangarsar Lift Canal Bikaner only Shortest lift canal of IGNP.
5. Dr. Karni Singh Lift Canal Kolayat Lift Canal Bikaner & Jodhpur Serves Kolayat and rural commands.
6. Guru Jambheshwar Lift Canal Phalodi Lift Canal Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer Supplies the arid Phalodi tract.
7. Jai Narayan Vyas Lift Canal Pokhran Lift Canal Jaisalmer & Jodhpur Westernmost major lift system.

2.4 The 9 Gravity Branches of IGNP

Along the western (right bank) flank where land slopes gently away from the canal, branches operate under gravity: - **Left Bank Branch (Sole Exception):** **Rawatsar Branch** (Hanumangarh). - **Right Bank Branches (8 Branches):** Suratgarh, Anupgarh, Pugal, Dattor, Birsalpur, Charanwali, Shaheed Birbal, Sagarmal Gopa.

3. Gang Canal - World's First Concrete-Lined Desert Canal

3.1 Historical Genesis & Architecture

- **Patron:** Maharaja **Ganga Singh** of Bikaner. - **Agreement:** 4 September 1920 tripartite Sutlej Waters Agreement. - **Inauguration:** Opened on **26 October 1927** by Viceroy **Lord Irwin** at Shivpur Head. - **Headworks:** Hussainiwala Headworks on the Satluj River in Ferozepur, Punjab. - **Total Length:** **129 km** (112 km in Punjab + 17 km in Rajasthan). - **Rajasthan Entry Point:** Near **Khakkhan Village** in Sri Ganganagar. - **Engineering Marvel:** First desert canal globally lined with **kankar-lime concrete** to minimize seepage. - **Link Channel:** An 80-km feeder canal from Lohgarh (Haryana) to Sadhuwali (Rajasthan) built to modernize inflows.

4. Chambal Valley Multipurpose Project

4.1 Interstate Partnership (50:50 Rajasthan & MP)

- Commenced in 1953โ€“54 as an interstate joint venture between **Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh** sharing cost, water, and power on a **50:50 basis**. - **Installed Hydroelectric Capacity:** **386 MW** (Rajasthan share: **193 MW**). - **The Cascade of 4 Dams (Constructed in 3 Stages):**
Dam Name Location & Jurisdiction Stage & Year Storage & Power Capacity Operational Character
1. Gandhi Sagar Dam Bhanpura, Mandsaur (MP) Stage I (1960) 6,920 MCM; 115 MW (5 ร— 23 MW) Largest storage dam of the project; located in MP.
2. Kota Barrage Kota City (Rajasthan) Stage I (1960) Purely diversion barrage; 0 MW Power Releases water into Left and Right Main Canals.
3. Rana Pratap Sagar Dam Rawatbhata, Chittorgarh (Raj) Stage II (1970) 2,898 MCM; 172 MW (4 ร— 43 MW) Largest storage reservoir in Rajasthan; supplies cooling water to RAPS atomic station.
4. Jawahar Sagar Dam Borabas, Kota (Rajasthan) Stage III (1972) Hydro pick-up dam; 99 MW (3 ร— 33 MW) Located 26 km upstream of Kota Barrage.

Kota Barrage Canal Networks:

- **Left Main Canal (LMC):** 258 km long, irrigating Bundi and Kota exclusively in Rajasthan. - **Right Main Canal (RMC):** 372 km total (124 km in Rajasthan + 248 km in MP), traversing Kota and Baran, and crossing the Parvati River into MP via a colossal aqueduct.

5. Mahi Bajaj Sagar, Bisalpur & Narmada Projects

5.1 Mahi Bajaj Sagar Project

- **Interstate Pact:** 1966 bilateral agreement between Rajasthan and Gujarat. - **Financial & Power Formula:** - Capital Dam Cost: **Rajasthan 45% : Gujarat 55%**. - Generated Hydroelectricity: **100% (140 MW) belongs exclusively to Rajasthan**. - **Main Dam:** Built near **Borkhera village** in Banswara. Total length of **3,109 metres** makes it the **longest dam in Rajasthan**. - **Kagdi Pick-up Weir:** Located 8 km downstream of the main dam near Banswara city, feeding Left and Right Main Canals. - **Kadana Dam:** Constructed entirely at Gujarat's cost in Mahisagar district, Gujarat, utilizing regulated discharges. - **Beneficiaries:** Tribal tracts of Banswara and Dungarpur.

5.2 Bisalpur Dam Project

- **River & Site:** Built across the **Banas River** in Todaraisingh tehsil, Tonk district. - **Structure:** Concrete **Gravity Masonry Dam**. Full Reservoir Level at RL 315.50 m with 38.70 TMC gross capacity. - **Drinking Lifeline:** Supplies municipal drinking water to **Jaipur, Ajmer, Tonk, and Dausa**. - **Command Area:** Irrigates approximately **81,800 hectares** in Tonk and Sawai Madhopur.

5.3 Narmada Canal Project

- **Origin:** Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River in Gujarat. - **Rajasthan Allocation:** **0.50 MAF** awarded by the 1979 Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT). - **Entry Point:** Entered Rajasthan at **Silu Village (Sanchore)** on **27 March 2008**. Length in Rajasthan: 74 km. - **Statutory Micro-Irrigation:** First project in India where **pressurized sprinkler micro-irrigation is mandatory by law** across all 2.46 lakh hectares of command. Flood irrigation is prohibited. - **Lift Canals:** Sanchore, Bhadresh, and Panoria lift canals. Hosts Rajasthan's pioneer canal-top solar plant at Panoria.

6. Medium Projects, ERCP and Water Governance

Project River District Operational Significance
Jakham Dam Jakham River Pratapgarh Highest dam in Rajasthan (81 metres height); located inside Sita Mata Sanctuary.
Panchana Dam 5 rivulets Karauli Largest clay earthen dam in Rajasthan; constructed with US aid.
Som-Kamla-Amba Som River Dungarpur Tribal command irrigation in Dungarpur and Salumber.
Meja Dam Kothari River Bhilwara Drinking water to Bhilwara; hosts Green Mount Park.
Parwan Project Parwan River Jhalawar Irrigates 2 lakh ha and provides cooling water to Chhabra & Kalisindh thermal plants.
Jawai Dam Jawai River Pali "Amrit Sarovar of Marwar"; augmented by 6.7 km Sei water tunnel from Udaipur.

6.1 Modified PKC-ERCP Project

On **28 January 2024**, a tripartite MoU was signed between the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh to integrate ERCP with the Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link as a National Project with **90% central funding**, benefiting 21 districts of eastern Rajasthan.