Question.
What are the key features and significance of the Lower Ganga Canal system in Uttar Pradesh?
(UPPSC Mains General Studies-VI/GS-6 2023 Solutions)
Answer.
Key Facts:
Pakistan is known as the country of Canals because of an extensive network of canals from the Indus and its tributaries.
Indira Gandhi Canal is the longest canal in India, it is about 650 km long excluding its branches, and flows across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
Sharda Canal is the longest canal in Uttar Pradesh. It is located in the Pilibhit district and has a total length of 938 Km including all branches.
Tubewells are the largest source of Irrigation in Uttar Pradesh followed by Canal and Tank irrigation. About 84 % of irrigation in Uttar Pradesh comes from Wells and Tubewells.
Major canal of Uttar Pradesh:
- Upper Ganga Canal
- Central Ganga Canal
- Lower Ganga Canal
- Ram Ganga Canal
- East Yamuna Canal
- Agra Canal
- Sharada Canal
- Saryu or Ghaghra Canal
- Betwa Canal
Features and Significance of the Lower Ganga Canal System in Uttar Pradesh:
The following are key features and significance:
Origin:
The origin of the Lower Ganga Canal is Narora Barrage, which is located in Bulandshahar. That is why it is also known as the Narora Canal. It is on the Ganges River.
Length:
The Length of the main Lower Ganga Canal is about 99 km. However, the total length of the Lower Ganga Canal including all branches is about 8183 km.
Beneficiary District:
It is providing irrigation facilities in about 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh: Bulandshahar, Fatehpur, Prayagraj, Aligarh, Mainpuri, Ghaziabad, Eta, Firozabad, Kanpur, Kasganj, and Farrukhabad.
Irrigation Facilities:
The lower Ganga Canal system provides irrigation water to about 10.42 lakh hectares of land in 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Water supply to Power Plants:
Apart from irrigation, this canal is also the source of water for the Narora Atomic Plant, Jawahar Thermal Power Plant ( Etah), Panki Power Plant (Kanpur), and NTPC Dibiyapur ( Auraiya).
Drinking Water Source:
It is a drinking water source in many urban centers. For example, Navin Jasrana Canal is the branch of the Lower Ganga Canal and is the source of drinking water to Firojabad.
Water Supply to Industry:
It is a source of water for many industries. For example, Kanpur's fertilizer company and Kanpur's Ordnance factory take water from the Lower Ganga Canal.
Lower Ganga Canal has been the water source for irrigation, industry, power plants, and drinking in 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
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