Rajasthan Sanctions Rs 1,274 Crore for 4 Escape Reservoirs Along Indira Gandhi Canal to Boost Farmland Irrigation The Rajasthan government has approved Rs 1,274.26 crore to construct four escape reservoirs along the Indira Gandhi Canal, adding 8,746 MCFT of water storage capacity. Efforts to reinforce agricultural infrastructure in the arid stretches of Rajasthan have gained fresh momentum with a major push for water conservation. Amid sparse rainfall and depleting groundwater reserves, the Indira Gandhi Canal Project remains the principal lifeline for western Rajasthan. To optimize water management and prevent wastage during peak flows, the state administration has sanctioned Rs 1,274.26 crore for developing four major escape reservoirs. These storage facilities will hold an aggregate volume of 8,746 MCFT, ensuring dependable water reserves for agricultural and emergency use. Locations and Capacities of the Planned Water Storage Facilities The proposed water bodies will be situated strategically along key markers of the canal system, specifically at RD 507, RD 750, RD 1121, and RD 1356. With a combined capacity of 8,746 MCFT, these reservoirs will store excess canal discharge and release it during lean periods. Alongside storage creation, the irrigation department is actively restoring watercourses, field channels, and structural canal networks across the command area to curb conveyance losses. Refurbishing Field Channels and Rolling Out Micro-Irrigation Networks Under the state budget commitments for 2024-25 and 2025-26, comprehensive refurbishment work across 2,20,377 hectares of field channels is underway. To promote water efficiency across parched tracts, sprinkler irrigation installations are being set up over an area of 1,18,248 hectares. Structural overhauls are simultaneously progressing across the Sagarmal Gopa branch, Baba Ramdev sub-branch, Phalodi lift canal, both banks of the main canal, Baba Ramdev branch, Kolayat distributary, and Khidrat distributary to ensure smooth tail-end water delivery. Planned Outlay of Rs 550 Crore for the 2026-27 Financial Period Longer-term infrastructure development will carry forward into the 2026-27 fiscal calendar, for which works totaling Rs 550 crore have already been announced. This subsequent phase encompasses the overhaul of field channels covering 33,543 hectares. Furthermore, it includes building a balancing reservoir on the Sagarmal Gopa branch, alongside extensive revamping of both the Gajner lift canal and the Kolayat lift canal systems. Sustaining 13 Districts and Crucial Defense Establishments Beyond crop fields, the Indira Gandhi Canal network satisfies drinking water needs across 13 districts spanning western, northern, and central Rajasthan. It also caters to vital operational water supplies for the Border Security Force, the Indian Army, power stations, and surrounding industrial hubs. The current drive to establish reservoirs and modernize feeder canals directly fortifies the agrarian backbone, shielding local rural communities from extreme hydrological vulnerabilities. What this means for you This infrastructure expansion will resolve erratic canal supplies and drastically reduce water distress across arid farmlands. • Across India: Increased production of grain and oilseed in border districts strengthens national agricultural resilience. It also guarantees uninterrupted water reserves for frontline military formations and power plants. • In Rajasthan: Farmers across 13 western, northern, and central districts will receive steady irrigation flows up to tail-end farms. The overhaul of over 2.20 lakh hectares of channels and new sprinkler networks will significantly curb transmission losses. • Drinking Water Security: Stored reservoir volumes will serve as critical buffers during canal maintenance closures and harsh summer spells. This prevents severe municipal and village drinking water shortfalls in desert settlements. • Rural Economy: Consistent irrigation access protects farm incomes against droughts and harvest failures. The ongoing construction and civil repair contracts will generate sustained local employment across rural areas. Why this happened Western Rajasthan faces chronic hydrological vulnerabilities driven by arid climatic conditions, scanty rainfall, and rapidly plummeting water tables. While the Indira Gandhi Canal sustains the region, inadequate holding structures and decaying canal segments have caused substantial water loss. • Lack of Escape Storage: In the absence of specialized escape reservoirs along the canal alignment, excess seasonal inflows could not be effectively stored. Building four designated reservoirs solves this by holding up to 8,746 MCFT of water. • Conveyance Seepage Losses: Aging distribution channels and unlined watercourses historically caused large quantities of water to seep away before reaching farmlands. Extensive channel relining across 2.20 lakh hectares and sprinkler retrofitting directly address this inefficiency. • Strategic and Civic Demand: The canal must continually sustain frontline defense forces, thermal power projects, industries, and municipal water grids across 13 desert districts, making reserve storage vital. Questions & Answers 1. How many escape reservoirs are being developed along the Indira Gandhi Canal? A total of four new escape reservoirs are being constructed under the Indira Gandhi Canal Project. 2. What is the financial outlay sanctioned for these four reservoirs? The Rajasthan government has accorded administrative and financial approval of Rs 1,274.26 crore for these works. 3. What will be the total storage capacity of the four escape reservoirs? The proposed combined water storage capacity of the four reservoirs will be 8,746 MCFT. 4. Where are these reservoirs located along the canal? The reservoirs will be situated at RD 507, RD 750, RD 1121, and RD 1356. 5. How many districts depend on the Indira Gandhi Canal for drinking water? The canal serves as the primary drinking water source for 13 districts across western, northern, and central Rajasthan. 6. What outlay has been announced for the canal under the 2026-27 budget? Works worth Rs 550 crore have been announced for field channel repairs and canal renovations for the 2026-27 fiscal year. https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/indira-gandhi-canal-para-1-274-karora-rupaye-se-banenge-4-escape-reservoirs-marudhara-men-snvaregi-kheti-41585 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.