Haryana - Irrigation and Hydropower | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

Introduction

• Haryana, being an agricultural state, boasts well-organized irrigation facilities.
• Approximately 60% of the agricultural land in Haryana is equipped with irrigation, sourced from canals, tubewells, wells, and ponds.
• Tubewells play a significant role, contributing to 51.12% of the state's overall irrigation.
• Canal irrigation accounts for 48.3%, while a minor 0.52% comes from other sources.
• Kaithal district leads in tubewell-based irrigation with 185 hectares, while Panchkula has the lowest at 15 hectares.
• Haryana irrigates around 5672 hectares, with Sirsa district having the highest irrigation coverage at 698 hectares, and Panchkula the lowest at 25 hectares.
• In some districts like Rohtak, Gurugram, Karnal, and Bhiwani, windmills contribute to irrigation, supported by Germany and Holland.
• Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Jind, and Panipat are fertile districts receiving canal irrigation.
• Several Haryana districts lack sufficient water resources, relying on groundwater management and international water agreements for agricultural water supply.

Canal Irrigation System in Haryana

• According to the Economic Survey 2020-21, Haryana has established an extensive canal network comprising 1521 channels, covering an expansive area of 14125 square kilometers.
• The state's canal system is organized into two primary water systems: the Western Yamuna Canal System and the Bhakra Canal System.
• As indicated by the Economic Survey 2020-21, the Western Yamuna Canal system encompasses a total of 472 canals, spanning 4311 kilometers.
• The Bhakra Canal System, identified in the Economic Survey 2020-21 as the largest canal system in the state, boasts a comprehensive length of 5867 kilometers and features 521 channels.

The main canal projects of Haryana are as follows:

Western Yamuna Canal System

• Commencing from the right bank of the Yamuna at Tajewala in 1879, the Western Yamuna Canal stands as the oldest canal in Haryana, initially constructed by Feroz Shah Tughlaq.
• With a total length, including its distributaries, measuring 3226 kilometers, this historic canal irrigates approximately 4 lakh hectares of land across districts such as Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Sonipat, Panipat, Rohtak, Hisar, Sirsa, and Jind.
• Beyond the state borders, it extends its irrigation coverage to around 1 lakh hectares of land in Delhi and Rajasthan.
• Presently, the Western Yamuna Canal originates from the Hathnikund Barrage of the state.

Branches of the Western Yamuna Canal:

1. Sirsa Branch Canal:

   • Constructed in 1896, it serves Jind, Fatehabad, and Sirsa, standing as the longest branch of the Western Yamuna Canal System.

2. Bhalaut Branch Canal:

   • A sub-branch of the Delhi branch, flowing from Khubru village to Jhajjar district. The Jhajjar canal is a sub-canal of the Bhalaut branch.

3. Barwala Branch Canal:

   • A sub-branch of the Sirsa branch, providing water to Hisar district.

4. Hansi Branch Canal:

   • Originally built in 1825 and remodeled in 1959, it originates from the paleochannel of the Chautang river. The Bhutana canal, one of its main branches, supplies water to the Hansi area in the Hisar district.

5. Jind Branch Canal:

   • Flowing through the Jind district, it has Rohtak canal and Bhiwani canal as its main branches, catering to the irrigation needs of Rohtak and Bhiwani districts.
6. Munak Canal
   • Extending over a length of 102 kilometers, the Munak Canal facilitates the transfer of water from Munak village in Karnal to Haidarpur in Delhi.
   • Serving a crucial role, the Munak Canal stands as a primary source of drinking water for the city of Delhi.
   • In 1996, an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was formalized between Haryana and Delhi, outlining the collaborative efforts for the construction of the Munak Canal.
   • After several years of endeavor, the project reached its culmination in 2012, marking the successful completion of the Munak Canal and reinforcing its significance in catering to Delhi's water needs.

Bhakra Canal System

• Constructed on the Sutlej River through the Nangal Dam, the Bhakra Canal System plays a pivotal role in irrigating the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
• Representing a collaborative effort among these three states, the canal contributes significantly to the irrigation of a substantial portion of Northern India.
• Its entry into Haryana occurs near Tohana, and it serves extensive areas in Hisar, Rohtak, Fatehabad, and Sirsa districts. Noteworthy branches include Ratia, Rori, Barwala, and Fatehabad.
• The Bhakra Canal and the Western Yamuna Canal are interconnected through the Western Yamuna Feeder Project.
• Designed to ensure water supply during the arid summer months in Western Haryana, the feeder project consists of two branches: the Narwana Link Canal and the Barwala Link Canal.
• The Barwala Link Canal draws water from the Western Yamuna Canal in summer and from the Bhakra Canal at the year's end.
• With a capacity of 2700 cubic units, the Narwana Link Canal and the Barwala Link Canal, with a capacity of 1700 cubic units, enhance water distribution and availability in the region.

Gurugram Canal Project

• Originating from Okhla (Delhi) through the construction of a dam on the Yamuna River, the Gurugram Canal Project commenced its construction in 1970 and concluded during the 10th Five Year Plan.
• Extending over 1.2 lakh hectares in Gurugram, Faridabad, and Palwal districts, this canal significantly contributes to regional irrigation.

Jawaharlal Canal and Bhiwani Canal

• Derived from the Bhakra Canal System, the Jawaharlal Canal and Bhiwani Canal are two smaller canals serving specific areas.
• The Jawaharlal Canal provides irrigation to the Sonipat district, while the Bhiwani Canal caters to the agricultural needs of the Bhiwani district.

Agra Canal

• Drawing water from the Yamuna River, the Agra Canal originates at the Okhla Barrage near Delhi.
• This canal plays a crucial role in irrigating areas including Agra and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, Bharatpur in Rajasthan, and Faridabad in Haryana.

Multipurpose River Valley Projects in Haryana

Haryana hosts several multipurpose river valley projects, including lift irrigation initiatives aimed at enhancing agricultural capabilities in specific regions.

Lift Irrigation Projects:

• Lift irrigation projects are strategically implemented in the hilly and arid regions of Haryana, particularly in the southern and western parts, which extend from the Aravalli hills of Rajasthan. These areas receive limited rainfall, making lift irrigation systems crucial for agriculture.
• The state boasts 493 canals under the lift irrigation system, covering an extensive length of 3702 kilometers.

Jui Canal Project:

• Designed to irrigate the upper regions of Bhiwani and adjacent areas, the Jui Canal Project spans 170 kilometers and irrigates approximately 32 thousand hectares of land.
• Commenced in 1969, the Jui Canal Project continues to successfully contribute to Haryana's agricultural landscape.

Jawaharlal Nehru Lift Irrigation Project:

• Initiated in 1976 in the dry Mahendragarh district, this project aligns with the Bhakra canal and irrigates agricultural land in Mahendragarh and Bhiwani districts.
• Notably beneficial during the 1987 drought, it played a key role in safeguarding Kharif crops.

Loharu Lift Irrigation Project:

• Also known as the Indira Gandhi Irrigation Project, this initiative features a 225-kilometer-long canal.
• Serving Bhiwani and Charkhi-Dadri districts, the project contributes significantly to water availability in these regions.

Bhiwani Lift Irrigation Project:

• Referred to as the Virendra Narayan Chakravarti Project, this initiative involves a 200-kilometer-long canal.
• Playing a vital role, the project irrigates around 1 lakh hectares of land in the Bhiwani district.

Nangal Lift Irrigation Project:

• Encompassing an 80-kilometer-long canal constructed in two phases, the Nangal Lift Irrigation Project serves Ambala by providing irrigation and drinking water to the Ambala canal and Ambala Cantt areas.

Hathnikund Barrage Project:

• Situated on the Yamuna River in Haryana's Yamunanagar district, the Hathnikund Barrage is a concrete structure.
• It was constructed as a replacement for the Tajewala Barrage, with work carried out from October 1996 to June 1999, at a cost of ₹220 crore, primarily for irrigation purposes.
• Despite its completion in 1999, the barrage became operational in 2002, boasting a length of 360 meters.
• Functioning to divert excess monsoon water to the Western and Eastern Yamuna Canals, it effectively prevents floods.
• Additionally, the small reservoir created by the barrage serves as a wetland, supporting 31 species of water birds.

Narwana Irrigation Project:

• Approved by the State Government for expanding irrigation in the Narwana area, the Narwana Irrigation Project involves connecting the Salwan Feeder with the Dhamtan Distributory.
• Spanning 37,500 feet, this project provides irrigation water to Kaloda Khurel, Bhikhewala, Tulian Kalan, Sulehra, and other areas in the state.

Tajewala Barrage:

• Erected in 1873 across the Yamuna River in Yamunanagar district, Haryana, the Tajewala Barrage regulated the river's flow for irrigation in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana via the Western Yamuna Canal and Eastern Yamuna Canal.
• Originating in the Yamunanagar district, these two canals served as the starting point for the Yamuna River.
• With dimensions of 24.73 meters in height and 360 meters in length, the Tajewala Barrage was decommissioned upon the successful operation of the Hathnikund Barrage.

Other Irrigation Projects

Other canal projects running in the state are:

Major Dams of Haryana

The major dams of Haryana are as follows:

Pathrala Dam:

• Constructed during 1875-76, the Pathrala Dam stands on the Somb River and is situated near Dadupur village in the Yamunanagar district.
• With a length of 460 meters and a height of 34 meters, this dam has been a notable structure contributing to water management in the region.

Ottu Dam:

• Located approximately 8 miles from Sirsa, the Ottu Dam, also known as Ottu Weir and Ottu Head, is built on the Ghaggar-Hakra River in Haryana.
• Constructed in 1896 through collaborative efforts between the Princely State of Bikaner and the British Government, the Ottu Dam transformed the previously small Dhanur Lake near Ottu village in the Sirsa district into a substantial water reservoir.
• Serving a crucial role, it provides water to two Ghaggar canals, namely the Northern Ghaggar Canal and the Southern Ghaggar Canal, which in turn supply water for irrigation in Northern Rajasthan.
• In 2002, a new tourist complex was inaugurated at the dam, receiving the honorary name of Chaudhary Devi Lal Weir in remembrance of the former Chief Minister of Haryana, Chaudhary Devi Lal.
• The reservoir created by the Ottu Dam is commonly referred to as the Ottu Reservoir.