Question:

Explain the benefits of the Indira Gandhi Canal in its command area.

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Remember: The canal turned the desert green, brought cash crops to dry lands, and provided reliable drinking water.
Updated On: Jul 10, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Concept
Regional planning and sustainable development, specifically the impact of major irrigation projects in arid regions.

Step 2: Meaning

The Indira Gandhi Canal is a massive irrigation project that brought water from the Harike Barrage in Punjab to the dry Thar Desert regions of Rajasthan, transforming the local ecology and economy.

Step 3: Analysis


Ecological Transformation: The constant availability of irrigation water has increased soil moisture and facilitated widespread afforestation, greening a historically barren desert landscape.
Agricultural Shift: It has allowed farmers to transition from traditional, low-yield drought-resistant crops (like gram and bajra) to highly profitable commercial crops (such as wheat, cotton, groundnut, and mustard).
Economic Boost: The massive increase in agricultural production and improved livestock rearing have directly elevated the income levels and food security of the regional population.
Drinking Water: It has provided a reliable, permanent source of drinking water for both humans and livestock in districts that historically faced severe water scarcity.

Step 4: Conclusion

The Indira Gandhi Canal has acted as a vital lifeline for western Rajasthan, converting a dry desert into a productive agricultural zone and drastically improving the standard of living.
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