Government Commences Lift Irrigation Scheme Benefiting 39 Villages Near Panchna Dam

On the morning of July 6, the state government laid the foundation for a comprehensive lift‑irrigation scheme that will serve 39 villages surrounding the Panchna Dam in Karoli district.

The project, part of a larger 61 lakh‑rupee investment, includes two new lift‑irrigation units and a retrofit of the existing PDN system under the Gudla lift plan. Once operational, the scheme is projected to irrigate approximately 13,000 hectares of agricultural land.

Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat, Home Minister, and Karoli district minister Jawahar Singh Bedham presided over the ceremony, which began with traditional prayers at the Devnarayan temple complex.

Officials emphasized that the lift‑irrigation facilities will channel water from the dam’s command area to higher‑lying fields, addressing a long‑standing water‑scarcity problem for the hill villages.

Present at the event were senior representatives such as the Rural Development Secretary, the Divisional Commissioner, senior police officials, District Collector Akshay Godara, and local MLA Darshan Singh Gurjar, underscoring the project’s significance for regional development.

The foundation‑laying follows a state‑level agreement reached on June 30 and a series of inspections carried out two days earlier to ensure technical and safety standards were met.

Villagers greeted the announcement with enthusiasm, hopeful that the new lift‑irrigation infrastructure will finally provide reliable water for sowing and harvesting, ending years of uncertainty.