– It is one of the biggest largest irrigation project not only in India but in whole world.
– It covers an area 600 Km long and 45 Km wide of the Thar Desert in North West of Rajasthan.
– RCP was first conceived on 29 October, 1948.
– To rejuvenate to great desert.
– The physiographic of the area is characterized by vast stretches of undulating windblown sand dunes which sometime rise above 60 m.
– It was came to reality in 1951-53
– RCP was taken up by the Central Water and Power Commission in 1951.
– Ar. To be irrigated annually- 29 Lakh acres.
– Length of main canal- 445 Kms.
– Length of branches- 832 Kms.
– Depth of water- 6.25 m.
– Bed width lined canal- 38 m.
– Discharge at head- 18500 cusses
– Length of distributaries and minors- 547 Kms.
Stage I:
This stage comprising construction of 204 Km long feeder canal, 189 Km long main canal and 3454 Km long distributaries
Origin- from the Harike dam situated on the confluence of rivers Satlej & Beas
End- Comes to an end near Masitawali in Hanumangarh. This is called Rajasthan feeder
Provide Irrigation- First stage has been providing irrigation facilities to 5.63 lakh hectares.
A culturable command area of 525 lakh hectare is mostly completed potential of 5.77 lakh hectare was created by March 1986 and the creation of rest irrigation potential has been completed by March, 1991.
Stage II:
This stage of estimates to provide flow into 7.0 lakh hectare to culturable command area up to Gardra Road in Barmer district
It lift irrigation in block to 3.12 lakh hectare. Culturable command area under 5 lifts schemes up to 60 m. Reservation of 1800 cuses of water for drinking water supply and industrial usages.
The main canal in its entire length of 256 Km in stage-II from Chhatargarh to Mohangarh has been completed.
Water released up to Tail near Mohangarh in Jaisalmer district on 1st January, 1987 by assuming a total length of 649 Kms.
With the completion of Lathi Series water has started flowing and it is being used for cultivation.
Form Mohangarh point a new branch is being taken out which is 90 Kms. in length and has been named as Leehva branch. It has been extended up to Gardra town in Barmer. The region is undulating and therefore seven lift canals have been constructed to lift up the water up to 60 m.
The lift canals are–
i. Bikaner-Lunkaransar
ii. Gajner lift canal
iii. Nohar-Saheve lift canal
iv. Kolayat lift canal
v. Phalodi lift canal
vi. Pokaran lift and
vii. Bangarsar lift canal
On completion, irrigation potential of about 19.63 lakh hectares are would be created every year.
Till March, 09 construction of branches and distributaries was completed over a distance of 8291.06 Km was as against proposed target of 9413 Kms.
A sum of Rs.3445.80 crore was spent over it. Rs. 475.76 crore in the first stage and Rs.2970.26 crore in the second stage.
Irrigation facilities were created in 15.73 lakh hectrares by the end of March, 2009.
Agriculture output of about Rs. 1750 crore is produced annually with the help of this project.
It also provides drinking water.
Kunwar Sain lift canal is providing drinking water to Bikaner city and 99 villages situated out of the project area.
Gandhelilsheva lift scheme is providing drinking water to 175 villages of Churu district.
Jodhpur lift scheme is providing drinking water to Jodhpur city and enroute town and villages.
After completion of project, 1.80 crore population of eight districts of Western Rajasthan will avail drinking water facility.