Largest Irrigation Canal in India

Irrigation has been crucial to Indian agriculture since prehistoric times. The prosperous plains of the Ganges and Indus rivers gave rise to the Harappan and Aryan civilizations, who built canals and irrigation systems to water their fields. Nowadays, India has one of the largest networks of canals, reservoirs, and dams in the world, enabling farmers to cultivate crops in otherwise dry places. 

 Related Terms and Definitions

Irrigation: 

Irrigation provides water to crops in order to assist their maintenance and growth. Irrigation is vital in areas where rainfall is scant or unreliable because it allows farmers to cultivate crops in otherwise arid areas.

Irrigation systems can be divided into two categories: surface irrigation and pressurised irrigation. 

Surface irrigation involves applying water to the top layer of soil, whereas pressurised irrigation employs sprinklers, drip irrigation, or other tools to transport water straight to plant roots.

Canal:

A canal is a man-made waterway created for drainage, transportation, or irrigation.
Canals are often built into the earth to divert water from a river or other water source for the purpose of irrigating land or delivering water for other uses.
There are many different sizes of canals, with little irrigation canals and large shipping canals being just two examples.
Canals can be used for flood control, freight and passenger transportation, and hydroelectric power generation in addition to irrigation. 

Dam:

A dam is a building placed across a river or other body of water to control the water’s flow.
Dams are commonly built for flood control, irrigation, or the generation of hydroelectric power. Dams come in a wide variety of designs, including rockfill, embankment, concrete gravity, and arch dams. Moreover, dams can be used to create habitats for fish and other aquatic animals as well as for leisure pursuits like boating and fishing.

Indira Gandhi Canal – the Largest Irrigation Canal in India

The Indira Gandhi Canal, also known as the Rajasthan Canal, is the largest irrigation canal in India. It is located in Rajasthan’s arid Thar Desert and was completed in 1987. The 649 km canal, which extends into Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, has its starting and terminus at the Harike Barrage in Punjab. At a flow rate of 1133 cubic metres per second, the canal can irrigate 1.8 million hectares of land.

The Indira Gandhi Canal Project, one of the largest canal construction projects in the world, has brought a green revolution to Rajasthan’s dry desert region. A number of the canal’s branches supply water to the regions close to Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Barmer, and Nagaur. Once the canal transformed the barren, bleak terrain into rich fields, farmers started cultivating crops like wheat, cotton, mustard, and vegetables.
The Indira Gandhi Canal Project has made potable water available to the locals, who previously struggled with a lack of water.
By providing farmers and other agricultural workers with a means of livelihood, the canal has aided the local economy. Also, it has promoted the expansion of the region’s agro-based businesses.

History and Construction

• Sir Ganga Ram originally suggested the Indira Gandhi Canal, commonly referred to as the Rajasthan Canal, in 1920.
• The Rajasthan Canal Project was the name given to the undertaking by the Indian government in the 1950s.
• The Rajasthan Canal Construction Department started work on the project in 1958.
• Almost 125 million cubic metres of earth had to be removed for the project, and various distributaries, barrages, and other water-controlling structures had to be built.
• Workers had to use dynamite to blast the rocks in order to unearth the ground due to the difficult topography of the Thar desert.
• The project encountered numerous difficulties, such as delays and cost overruns, but was eventually finished in 1987 and given the new name Indira Gandhi Canal Project in memory of the late Indian Prime Minister.
• The barren areas of Rajasthan have been converted into rich fields thanks to the Indira Gandhi Canal, one of the world’s largest irrigation canals.
• Millions of farmers and agricultural labourers now have a means of subsistence thanks to the canal, which has also helped the region’s agro-based industries grow. The undertaking stands as an example of human tenacity and endurance in the face of difficulty.

Features of the Indira Gandhi Canal:

•    Length: 649 km
•    Capacity: 1133 cubic meters per second
•    Irrigates: 1.8 million hectares of land
•    Starts from: Harike Barrage in Punjab
•    Terminates at: Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
•    Brings water to the regions of Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Barmer, and Nagaur
•    Has many branches and distributaries to supply water to different areas
•    Supports agriculture, fisheries, and livestock farming
•    Provides drinking water to the people of the region
•    Boosts the local economy by creating job opportunities and supporting agro-based industries
•    Offers opportunities for tourism with several tourist attractions located along its route

Impact of the Indira Gandhi Canal:

• Turned the dry, arid soil into productive fields
• Supported the growth of fisheries, agriculture, and cattle farming
• Provided the region’s residents with drinking water after they had previously experienced water scarcity
• Facilitated the growth of agro-based enterprises and provided employment opportunities.
• Raised the region’s population’s standard of living
• Promoted tourism and increased agricultural output to strengthen the local economy.

Benefits of the Indira Gandhi Canal:

•  Delivers water for drinking, agriculture, and other uses.
• Promotes the growth of fisheries, agriculture, and cattle farming
• Provides employment opportunities and encourages the growth of agro-based industries
• Raises the region’s population’s standard of living
• Enhances the region’s economy by boosting agricultural productivity and fostering tourism
• Through the production of hydropower, offers a source of green energy.

Drawbacks of the Indira Gandhi Canal:

•  Requires a lot of water, which could cause water shortages and environmental damage.
• Due to the building of salts in the soil, it may induce soil salinization, which in some regions may result in waterlogging and soil erosion.
• Maintains the canal and related structures in excellent shape will cost a lot of money. 
•  May have adverse impacts on the ecology of the region due to changes in water availability and quality

In conclusion, the Indira Gandhi Canal has had a substantial impact on the development of Rajasthan’s dry regions. The parched, desolate terrain was transformed into lush fields by the canal, which provided water for irrigation, drinking, and other needs. The canal has boosted the local economy by creating new job possibilities and encouraging the expansion of agro-based businesses. However, the canal has some serious problems, including soil salinization, water depletion, and high maintenance costs. Ultimately, the Indira Gandhi Canal is still a remarkable feat of engineering and a representation of how resilient people can be in the face of adversity.

Sample Questions and Answers

Que 1. How has Rajasthan’s economic growth been impacted by the Indira Gandhi Canal?

Answer – The expansion of agriculture and agro-based enterprises in the area has been fostered by the canal, providing millions of people with employment opportunities. Due to farmers’ ability to produce more and sell their goods in bigger marketplaces, it has also resulted in an increase in trade and commerce.

Que 2. What were some of the difficulties encountered during the building of the Indira Gandhi Canal?

Answer: The Thar desert’s dry and stony environment was one of the biggest obstacles. To ensure that the water could flow by gravity, the canal had to be constructed at a higher height than the surrounding terrain. The rocky terrain made it challenging as well. The rocky terrain also made it difficult to excavate the earth, and the workers had to use dynamite to blast the rocks.

Que 3. How important a role did technology play in building and maintaining the Indira Gandhi Canal?

Answer – As for the development and upkeep of the Indira Gandhi Canal, technology has been crucial. The canal was dug, and the many structures needed to control water flow were built, using modern technology and equipment. Advanced monitoring and control systems are also employed to regulate water flow and make sure the canal is operating properly. Nevertheless, utilising technology also calls for a substantial financial commitment and specialised labour, which can be difficult in some areas.

Que 4. How does the Indira Gandhi Canal stack up against other significant irrigation projects in India and elsewhere?

Answer – With a length of more than 650 kilometres, the Indira Gandhi Canal is one of the biggest irrigation projects in both India and the entire world. It is however smaller than some other significant irrigation initiatives, such as China’s 1,400-kilometer South-North Water Transfer Project.

Que 5. What are a few of the difficulties in preserving the Indira Gandhi Canal?

Answer – The harsh climate of the area, which can lead to erosion and damage to the canal construction, makes maintaining the Indira Gandhi Canal a serious problem. Waterlogging and salinization can also lessen the canal’s efficiency and affect agricultural yield. To keep the canal operating efficiently, maintenance work necessitates a large financial commitment.