Revamping of ferozepur feeder: Minister urged to get project report cleared from central commission

Sadulshehar (Sriganganagar) MLA Gurveer Singh today took up the pending issue of Ferozepur feeder revamp with Union Minister of Jal Shakti Chandrakant Raghunath Patil.

During a meeting with the minister in New Delhi, the legislator asked him to get the detailed project report (DPR) cleared from the Central Water Commission (CWC) to carry out long-pending reconstruction of the Ferozepur feeder. The CWC is a premier technical organisation in the field of water resources.

The Ferozepur feeder was constructed in the mid-1960s and its life was estimated at 50 years.

The MLA emphasised the urgent need for the revamp and relining of the canal. He informed the minister about the Gang Canal’s pivotal role as the lifeline of Sriganganagar.

Gurveer Singh said an immediate approval of the DPR was essential to strengthen the irrigation system in the border areas. “This will ensure the prosperity of the farming community that assists the central agencies in guarding the international border,” he added.

On July 17, farmer representatives had met Rajasthan Cabinet minister Sumit Godara at his office in Jaipur and discussed in detail the problems relating to the canals that originate from Punjab. Godara is also the minister incharge for Sriganganagar district.

Farmers had told the minister that the DPR was stuck in the Punjab Secretariat for a long time and the estimated cost of reconstruction escalated due to the delay in finalising the blueprint.

The farmers had demanded 2,500 cusecs of water in the Gang Canal and reconstruction of the Ferozepur feeder completed. The Rajasthan Government had in February 2022 approved Rs 200 crore for the renovation of the feeder that emanates from the Harike barrage in Punjab.

A survey indicated that the lining of the feeder had collapsed at several places. The canal has been running below its capacity to carry 6,000 cusecs of water.