Question.
Suggest the measures of promotion of sustainability in the Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area.
(NCERT class 12 geography, India People and Economy, Chapter-9: Planning and Sustainable Development in the Indian Context)
Answer.
The Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area was earlier known as the Rajasthan Canal and is the largest canal system in India. The canal project was started in 1958 and was completed in two phases in the late 1980s. This canal originates from a dam named Harike in Punjab which is on the Sutlej river. A total of 19.63 lakh hectares of land was irrigated under the project.
The Indira Gandhi Canal has brought about many positive changes in the command area such as an increase in irrigated areas, intensive cropping, grazing, and an increase in afforestation. But at the same time, the canal has created many environmental problems such as waterlogging and soil salinization. Over time, the stability of the Indira Gandhi Canal Command area is being questioned due to the deterioration of the physical environment in the area.
The following are five measures to promote sustainable development in the Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area:
- Water management policy needs to be strictly implemented. Ensuring equitable distribution of canal water in command areas by lining, land development, leveling, and reducing transport losses of water.
- Promoting the growing of citrus fruit trees should be encouraged instead of high water crops like paddy, and sugarcane. Citrus fruit trees are suitable for the climate here.
- The area affected by waterlogging and the salinity of the soil should be rehabilitated.
- This area requires ecological development such as afforestation, shelter area, plantation, and pasture development.
- There is a need for diversification of other economic sectors (industry and services) in the Indira Gandhi Canal Command Areas. Economic stability in the region cannot be achieved through the development of agriculture and allied activities in the region alone.
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