Major Irrigation Projects of Rajasthan: Questions and Answers
Question 1: What are the other names of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project (IGNP), and from which river confluence does it originate?
Answer:
The Indira Gandhi Canal is also known as the “Maruganga” (Desert Ganga) and the “Lifeline of Rajasthan.” Its original name was the “Rajasthan Canal.”
It is the largest irrigation project in the world.
The canal originates from the Harike Barrage, which is located at the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers in Punjab.
Question 2: What are the major dates related to the construction and renaming of IGNP, and how many districts of Rajasthan benefit from it?
Answer:
The project was originally proposed in 1948 by Shri Kanwar Sain, the then Chief Engineer of the Bikaner State Irrigation Department.
Its foundation stone was laid on March 31, 1958, by Govind Ballabh Pant, and it was renamed as the Indira Gandhi Canal Project on November 2, 1984.
The IGNP provides irrigation and drinking water facilities to 10 districts of Rajasthan — Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Churu, Jhunjhunu, and Sikar.
Question 3: The Chambal River Project is a joint venture between which states, and what is their sharing ratio?
Answer:
The Chambal River Project is a joint multipurpose venture between the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, with an equal partnership of 50:50.
It was launched in 1953–54 and is based on one of Rajasthan’s major perennial rivers, the Chambal.
Under this project, three major dams were constructed:
- Gandhi Sagar Dam (Madhya Pradesh)
- Rana Pratap Sagar Dam (Rajasthan)
- Jawahar Sagar Dam (Rajasthan)
Question 4: Where is the Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam located, and what is its significance?
Answer:
The Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam is constructed across the Mahi River near Borkheda village in Banswara district, Rajasthan.
The project’s construction began in 1972 and was completed in 1983.
It is the largest multipurpose project for the tribal region of southern Rajasthan and has been named in honor of Jamnalal Bajaj.
The dam serves the purposes of hydropower generation, irrigation, and drinking water supply.
The installed capacity of the dam is 140 MW, and the Banswara district is its main beneficiary.
Question 5: What is the recent agreement between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh regarding the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP)?
Answer:
For nearly 20 years, a water-sharing dispute persisted between Rajasthan (demanding 75% water dependability) and Madhya Pradesh (seeking a 50–50 share).
Under the revised agreement, the ERCP has now been merged with the Parvati–Kalisindh–Chambal River Linking Project.
Through this single integrated project, 13 districts of Rajasthan and 13 districts of Madhya Pradesh will receive water.
After approval from the Central Government, 90% of the project cost will be funded by the Government of India.
This scheme is expected to provide irrigation water to around 2.80 lakh hectares of agricultural land in Rajasthan.