Minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra lays foundation stone for Punjab’s largest treated water irrigation project

ਸੀਵਰੇਜ ਟ੍ਰੀਟਮੈਂਟ ਪਲਾਂਟ ਮੋਗਾ ਤੋਂ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਿੰਚਾਈ ਲਈ ਸੋਧਿਆ ਪਾਣੀ ਮੁਹੱਈਆ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ @BhagwantMann ਵਲੋਂ ਭੂਮੀ ਤੇ ਜਲ ਸੰਭਾਲ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਰਾਹੀਂ 12.86 ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਾਜੈਕਟ ਪਾਸ ਕੀਤਾ, ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਅੱਜ ਨੀਂਹ ਪੱਥਰ ਰੱਖਿਆ।ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਸੋਧੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਸਦਵਰਤੋਂ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ ਤੇ ਧਰਤੀ ਹੇਠਲਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਵੀ ਬਚੇਗਾ। pic.twitter.com/UTSSFKSG7e

— Chetan Singh Jouramajra (@jouramajra) December 14, 2023

Jauramajra said the biggest treated water irrigation project in the state was being built at a total cost of Rs 12.87 crore, benefiting more than 1,000 hectares of agricultural land of 1,100 farmer households.

He also emphasised that to mitigate the threat of water scarcity and desertification, which Punjab is likely to witness in the next 20-25 years at present water consumption levels, the state must immediately adopt low water requiring diversified cropping patterns and intelligent irrigation techniques so that “we and our upcoming generations may never witness dry taps”.

The groundwater resources of the state are declining at an alarming rate with 117 out of 150 blocks comprising nearly 80 per cent of the state’s geographical area already under the over-exploited category, Jauramajra said. The utilisation of treated wastewater from the STPs not only aligns with the government’s mission of water conservation but also benefits the farmers by reducing fertilizer requirements as the treated wastewater is rich in nutrients, which will reduce input costs in farming and enhance farmer incomes, he added. He also urged farmers to vacate the illegal encroachments from the watercourses since they are essential for supplying water to their fields.

Moga MLA Dr Amandeep Kaur Arora said this treated water, which would have otherwise gone waste into drains, will now not only ensure round-the-year irrigation to more than 1,000 hectares of agricultural land but will also benefit the state in cutting electricity subsidy due to reduced usage of tubewells in the command area.

Mohinder Singh Saini, chief conservator of soils, Punjab said that the department has to date commissioned 58 such treated water irrigation projects benefitting more than 10,000 hectares of agricultural land. While sharing technical details of the project, he informed that it is being constructed under NABARD-assisted Rural Infrastructure Development Funds at a total cost of Rs 12.87 crore. Under this project, approximately 25 km of underground pipeline of diameter 630 mm, 500 mm, 355 mm and 200 mm will be laid benefiting 1,020 hectares of agricultural land of 1,100 farmer households.

He also spoke about various other farmer-centric services being offered by the AAP government for adopting efficient irrigation techniques. Farmers of Ajit Garh, Bukkanwala, Singhawala and Ghall Kalan villages were present on the occasion.