By IANS,
Chandigarh: The Punjab government Saturday sanctioned Rs.14.41 billion (Rs.1,441.26 crore) for re-lining the Rajasthan and Sirhind feeder canals.
The project will be executed over the next four years, a state government spokesman said here.
Punjab, which supplies nearly 50 percent of the foodgrain stock to the national kitty, largely relies on irrigation canals to enable farmers get enough water for their crops.
The re-lining of the canals is important to check loss of water in the canal system owing to leakages in the side-lining and minor breaches.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has also approved a Rs.5.4 billion Kandi canal stage-II project, the spokesman said.
Badal has directed the state irrigation department to formulate a system for regular cleaning of the canals in the state every year so that water is put to optimal use.