The Indira Gandhi Canal Project, formerly known as the Rajasthan Canal Project, is an irrigation project that provides water for agriculture and drinking in the semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, India. The canal begins in Punjab and runs over 650 km through Rajasthan. It was constructed in two stages from 1958 to supply water to over 1 million hectares of land. The project has transformed the economy of Rajasthan and changed the Thar Desert region into fertile agricultural areas.
The Indira Gandhi Canal Project, formerly known as the Rajasthan Canal Project, is an irrigation project that provides water for agriculture and drinking in the semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, India. The canal begins in Punjab and runs over 650 km through Rajasthan. It was constructed in two stages from 1958 to supply water to over 1 million hectares of land. The project has transformed the economy of Rajasthan and changed the Thar Desert region into fertile agricultural areas.
The Indira Gandhi Canal Project, formerly known as the Rajasthan Canal Project, is an irrigation project that provides water for agriculture and drinking in the semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, India. The canal begins in Punjab and runs over 650 km through Rajasthan. It was constructed in two stages from 1958 to supply water to over 1 million hectares of land. The project has transformed the economy of Rajasthan and changed the Thar Desert region into fertile agricultural areas.
The Indira Gandhi Canal Project, formerly known as the Rajasthan Canal Project, is an irrigation project that provides water for agriculture and drinking in the semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, India. The canal begins in Punjab and runs over 650 km through Rajasthan. It was constructed in two stages from 1958 to supply water to over 1 million hectares of land. The project has transformed the economy of Rajasthan and changed the Thar Desert region into fertile agricultural areas.
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SABARMATI RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT
Ahmedabad was established on Sabarmati in 1411. The Ahmedabad city developed on the either sides of the Sabarmati River. The river is the main source of drinking water.
Sabarmati and the Growth of Ahmedabad
Sabarmati has always been important to Ahmedabad
Previous status of the river:
• Divides the city into two
• Place to dump garbage • Storm water drains spewed untreated sewage into the river • Sewage from the slums flowed directly into the river • Encroachments reduced the river’s flood carrying capacity • The river became inaccessible to the public
The Project Objectives are:
• Make the riverfront accessible to the public
• Stop the flow of sewage, keep the river clean and pollution-free • Provide permanent housing for riverbed slum dwellers • Reduce risk of erosion and flooding in flood prone neighborhoods • Create riverfront parks, promenades and ghats to enjoy the water • Provide Ahmedabad with new cultural, trade and social amenities • Stitch together East and West Ahmedabad The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) set up the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd (SRFDCL) in May 1997, "to revivify the city centre by reconnecting it to the river", says DK Mahajan, executive director, SRFDCL. That August, AMC appointed the Environment Planning Collaborative (EPC), an Ahmedabad-based urban planning consultancy firm, to prepare a plan. In the first phase, EPC identified a 9-km stretch of the riverfront extending from Subhash bridge to Vasna barrage and proposed to reclaim 162 hectares of the riverbed. SRFDCL planned to sell or lease out a part of it to finance the project. In 2003, it extended the project to cover a 20- km stretch--from the Narmada main canal to Vasna barrage. "But in 2005, this was put on hold and phase I was extended 1.5 km beyond Subhash bridge to accommodate the Kotarpur waterworks and Duffnala stormwater outfall. As of now, SRFDCL is developing 190 ha," says Bimal Patel, an architect-planner of the project. This constant change in the plan has escalated the project cost from Rs 361 crore in 1997 to an estimated Rs 1,100 crore today.
Gulf of Cambay The Challenges •12000 hutments on both banks of the river occupying nearly 20% of critical project area. •Unorganized Gujari Bazaar of more than 1200 vendors on the eastern bank and Court Litigation. •Nearly 200 Dhobis using both the banks of the river for washing activities. •Thoroughly polluted and contaminated Sabarmati through 40 storm water outlets.
Design problems The maximum width of the Sabarmati channel was 629 metres and the narrowest cross-section 330 metres,. To develop the riverfront, SRFDCL had uniformly narrowed the channel to 275 metres, ensuring this constriction did not affect its carrying capacity.
Planning Precincts: The project will provide Ahmedabad with 11.5 km long pedestrian promenades at the water’s edge along both the banks of the river. In addition to the promenade, many new parks and gardens was built on the reclaimed land. Many new public facilities was built on the reclaimed land: cultural centers, museums, sports facilities, trade fair grounds and open air markets. A small portion of the reclaimed land will be sold for private commercial and residential developments. The sale of the reclaimed land will finance the project.
•More than 11200 families allotted houses for resettlement. •Construction of Riverfront Market for rehabilitation of Gujari Bazaar vendors. •Construction of modern Dhobi Ghat for the ousted dhobis.
Relocation of Riverbed Slum Dwellers – Housing
Structural Works •Diaphragm Wall, Anchor Slab, Ghats and Ramps •Retaining Wall, Staircases and Ramps •Interceptor Sewage Line, Extension of Outfalls & Manholes •General Earth Fill •Pumping Station
Further Development •Exhibition Centre, Events & Cultural Amenities •Recreational Amenities •Commercial Development
Structural Works 1.Diaphragm Wall, Anchor Slab, Ghats and Ramps 2.Retaining Wall, Staircases and Ramps 3.Interceptor Sewage Line, Extension of Outfalls & Manholes 4.General Earth Fill 5.Pumping Station
The Construction Process – Retaining Wall and General Earth Fill
Interceptor sewage line and Outfalls Extensions
Revenue Sustainable Project
•Likely revenue from sale of land Rs. 1700 Cr.
•Out of which, Rs. 1200 Cr. to be returned by SRFDCL to AMC •A Corpus of Rs. 500 Cr. to be kept aside for O & M Exp. of the project
"The ecology of the river is being transformed to satisfy the commercial greed of a select few," says Darshni Mahadevia of CEPT, reflecting concerns about riverfront 'beautification'.
The project has won Prime Minister’s National Award for Excellence in Urban Planning and Design in the year of 2003.
Ahmedabad with many new cultural, trade and social amenities
Indira Gandhi (Rajasthan) Canal Project is the largest irrigation project of the world to provide irrigation to semi-arid and arid areas of Rajasthan and give a face lift to its economy and economic development. It was earlier known as Rajasthan Canal, but in November 2, 1984 its name was changed as Indira Gandhi Canal. The Canal starts from the Harike Barrage below the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers in Punjab. The Canal runs some parts of Punjab and Haryana and runs 650 km in Rajasthan. Its end near Jaisalmer in the middle of The Thar Desert of Rajasthan .
The Indira Gandhi Nahar Project
The project objectives include drought proofing, providing drinking water, improvement of environment, afforestation, employment, rehabilitation, development and projection of animal wealth and increasing agricultural produce.
The Rajasthan Feeder extends for 204 km, the first 167 km of which lies in Punjab and Haryana and remaining 37 km in Rajasthan. It is fully lined masonry canal which is not utilised for irrigation. It feeds the Rajasthan Main Canal which is 445 km long and lies entirely in Rajasthan about 40-64 km away from the international boundary with Pakistan.
The construction of the project
The Indira Gandhi Nahar Project (IGNP) construction commenced in the year 1958. Indira Gandhi Nahar Project was designed to utilise 9,367 Mm3/yr of the total 10,608 Mm3/yr allocated to Rajasthan from the surplus waters of the Ravi and Beas rivers. The construction of the project has been divided into two stages.
Stage I: Stage I consists of a 204 km long feeder canal, having a headwork’s discharge capacity of 460 m3/sec, which starts from Harike Barrage. 170 km of the feeder canal lie in Punjab and Haryana and 34 km in Rajasthan. The entire system of stage-I consists of the 204 km long feeder canal, 189km long main canal and 3454 km long distribution system, is concrete lined, and serves 553 kha of culturable command area, out of which 46 kha are served by pumping to a 60 m lift, through four pumping stations. In addition to irrigation and domestic water supply through this project , it has been proposed by the Rajasthan State Electricity Board (RSEB) to install a total of 12.76 MW of mini hydro electric power stations, to utilise the available water fall in the canal. One such power station, with an installed capacity of 2´2 MW has already started functioning at Suratgarh branch of IGNP stage I.
Indira Gandhi Canal
Stage II : IGNP Stage II comprises construction of a 256 km long main canal and 5,606 km of a lined distribution system, and will serve 1,410 kha of CCA (873577 ha area in flow and 537018 ha under lift), utilising 4,930 Mm3/yr of water. The main canal in the entire length was completed in the year 1986.
Development: Indira Gandhi Canal is changing the face of The Thar Desert of Rajasthan and check spreading of desert to the fertile areas. Besides providing water for the crops, the canal would supply drinking water to hundreds of people in the far-flung areas. Irrigation facilities would be available in an area of 6770 km² in Jaisalmer district and 37 km² in Barmer district. The canal has transformed the barren deserts of Jaisalmer district into rich and lush fields. Crops of mustard, cotton, and wheat now flourish in the semi- arid western region of the state.
Water level rise in Jodhpur:
Drought plagued Jodhpur every year but the canal waters solved the water shortage and everyone was delighted. But the canal water was stored in natural reservoirs which happened to have cracks in their base. Water began seeping out. As it seeped out, the water table rose. In some parts of the city, water is seeping through to the surface. In others, it is just a few centimeters below the surface. "The entire water table has risen to just one metre below the surface. Normally, it should be at least five meters below ground," said O. P. Poonia, a scientist with the Central Ground Water Board in Jodhpur.
The main positive effects of Indira Gandhi Canal Project after the commencement of irrigation in 1961 include:
(1) the canal water is available for drinking and other domestic uses.
(2) The crops can be grown every year with the help of canal water.
(3) Rapid rise in the population increase in the number of villages, new colonies and mandies.
(4) Change in socio-economic conditions of the people and spurt in all economic activities.
(5) Improvement in household income and expenditure structure.
(6) Change in attitude and life style of people resulting into greater urge for education and rise in mobility and communication.
(7) Increase in 'heterogeneity' of population, enhanced inters and intra community interaction and quicker diffusion and adoption of technology of irrigated farming.
(8) Control over drought conditions.
(9) Change in the fauna of the area and introduction of fisheries.
(10) Improvement in the micro-climate and decrease in the incidence of sand storms.
(11) Rise in ground water table at the rate of 0.8 meter per year.
But excessive use of canal water in certain areas is causing the problem of salinity and water logging.
