Explanation:

Water is the most essential natural resource, a basic human need and the most important input for all human development activity. The main objective of the administration is to develop, plan, utilize and manage this important resource for irrigation in a judicious, equitable, sustainable and sound economic manner. An Act to regulate irrigation, namely ‘Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 has been enacted for this purpose and the nodal agency for canal administration is Department of Irrigation, Punjab.