Gang Canal

Gang Canal is the oldest of the three major irrigation systems in the Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan, India. It was conceived and initiated by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner to combat severe famine conditions faced by the Bikaner state at the turn of the 20th century.

History

During the famine of 1899–1900, Maharaja Ganga Singh sought a long-term solution to recurring droughts and food shortages. In 1903, he enlisted the services of A. W. E. Standley, Chief Engineer, who demonstrated the potential to irrigate the Bikaner region using water from the Sutlej River. The Sutlej Valley Project, drawn by R. G. Kennedy, the Chief Engineer of Punjab, proposed a plan to channel river water to a vast area in Bikaner.

However, the project faced opposition from the neighboring princely state of Bahawalpur. This dispute was resolved in 1906 after intervention by Lord Curzon, then Viceroy of India, who convened a tripartite conference between Bikaner, Bahawalpur, and Punjab. An agreement was signed on 4 September 1920, allowing the project to proceed.

The foundation stone for the canal headworks was laid on 5 December 1925 at Ferozepur. The 89-mile-long lined canal was completed in 1927. The canal was officially inaugurated by Lord Irwin, Viceroy of India, on 26 October 1927, in an event also graced by Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya.

Canal System

The Gang Canal runs along the northeastern border of India with Pakistan for approximately 150 kilometers within the Sri Ganganagar district. The total length of the canal system, including the main canal and its distributaries, spans about 1,398 kilometers.

The development of this canal system led to the establishment of the Sri Ganganagar district, which was carved out from the irrigated parts of the Bikaner state, separating it from the Hanumangarh district.

Significance

Maharaja Ganga Singh’s vision and efforts revived the arid and famine-prone region, rejuvenating agriculture and civilization in an area once thriving along the ancient Saraswati River. The Gang Canal remains a vital lifeline for irrigation and agriculture in this region.