Irrigation is an important input by itself for agriculture like fertilisers, improved seeds etc which imparts confidence to the farmers to adopt improved agricultural practices. The State government has given high priority to the development of surface water resources during the last four decades of planned development. A large number of irrigation projects have been planned and executed in different parts of the State.
Major Canal Irrigation Projects in Rajasthan:
Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojana (INGP)
Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojana (IGNP) started in 1958 and the irrigation facility started in 1961. The area of the project spans over four districts of Rajasthan, namely – Ganganagar, Bikaner, Hanumangarh and Jaisalmer. Its main aim is to assist in agricultural activities and provide drinking water, but it also envisages regional development and ecological improvement by arresting desertification.
- Read in Detail about: Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojana
Bhakra Nangal System
The Bhakra Nangal system is a complex system of several dams, reservoirs, inter-basin transfer linkages, powerhouses and a vast canal network. Sutlej waters were distributed between Punjab and Rajasthan as per the Bhakra Nangal Agreement 1959 with Rajasthan’s entitlement at 15.22 percent.Forty-nine percent of the project’s canal command area (CCA) is in Haryana, 35 percent in Punjab, and 16 percent Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, this translates to 372,000 hectares or 1.45 percent of state’s cultivable area, served by the 1,219 km long Bhakra-Sirhind canal distribution system. Only two districts of Sriganganagar and Hanumangar are covered by the project.
Bikaner / Gang Canal
The 114 km-long Gang Canal was the rst to come into existence and became fully operational in 1928, with a 1,251 km long distribution system to serve Sri Ganganagar district. Along with the Bikaner feeder, it provides water to a command area of 300,000 hectares with 65 percent intensity.
Chambal Valley Project
 The Chambal Valley Project is a major multipurpose project, constructed across the river Chambal by the State of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for irrigation and hydro – power generation. The Project includes:
- Jawahar Sagar Dam Project
- Rana Pratap Sagar Dam
- Kota Barrage
Chambal command area in Rajasthan is spread over six panchayat samitis (groups of villages) in Kota, Bundi and Baran districts.
Gurgaon Canal Project:
To utilize 500 cusecs of Yamuna Waters through Agra Canal during the rainy season for irrigation Gurgaon Canal Project is being constructed. This will facilitate the irrigation of Kharif crops in 185 villages of Deeg and Kaman tehsils of Bharatpur district. The States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi have signed an agreement regarding the sharing of Yamuna waters.
Sidhmukh Nahar Project
Sidhmukh Nahar Project is for providing irrigation facilities to Sidhmukh Nohar areas in northern part of the state. The project is undertaken with the assistance of European Economic Community.
