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Indira Gandhi Canal (Nahar) Command Area

Indira Gandhi Canal, previously known as Rajasthan Canal, is one of the largest canal systems in India. The canal originates at Harike barrage in Punjab and runs parallel to the Pakistan border at an average distance of 40 km in the Thar Desert (Marusthali) of Rajasthan. The construction work of the canal system has been carried out through two stages. The command area of stage-I lies in Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, and northern parts of Bikaner districts. It has a cultural command area of 5.53 lakh hectares. The command area of stage-II is spread over Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur, and Churu districts covering a culturable command area of 14.10 lakh hectares.

The introduction of canal irrigation in this dry land has transformed its ecology, economy, and society. It has influenced the environmental conditions of the region both positively as well as negatively. The availability of soil moisture for a longer period of time and various afforestation and pasture development programs under CAD have resulted in greening the land. This also helped in reducing wind erosion and siltation of canal systems. However, intensive irrigation and excessive water use have led to the emergence of twin environmental problems of waterlogging and soil salinity. The introduction of canal irrigation has brought about a perceptible transformation in the agricultural economy of the region. Soil moisture has been a limiting factor in the successful growing of crops in this area. The spread of canal irrigation has led to an increase in the cultivated area and the intensity of cropping. This has also caused waterlogging and soil salinity, which, in the long run, hampers the sustainability of agriculture.