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The Uttar Pradesh government is moving forward with plans to expand irrigation coverage in the eastern part of the state through the ongoing development of the Saryu Nahar Project. Officials from the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation and Water Resources Department said the initiative aims to increase irrigation capacity and extend water access to agricultural land across several districts.

Authorities have set a target to bring approximately 1.404 million hectares of farmland under irrigation through the project. The work is part of broader efforts to strengthen irrigation infrastructure and address water availability for agriculture in eastern Uttar Pradesh. According to officials, several steps are being undertaken during the 2026–27 financial year to increase irrigation potential in the command area of the canal system. These measures include the construction of new outlets, known locally as kulabas, the closure of gaps along existing canals, and the gradual development of a pressure irrigation system.

The department has planned the construction of about 9,000 irrigation outlets across nine districts in eastern Uttar Pradesh. So far, around 7,345 outlets have been completed, while the remaining 1,655 are expected to be built during the current financial year. Once the outlets are completed, officials estimate that irrigation capacity could increase by about 66,200 hectares, which may help farmers cultivate crops during both the Rabi and Kharif seasons. Work is also underway to address structural gaps in canals that currently affect irrigation flow in several areas. Authorities have identified 14 such gaps in the canal network.

Construction and repair work at these sites is progressing, and once completed, irrigation access could extend to an additional 27,863 hectares of farmland. In addition to these measures, the state government is working on a pressure irrigation system in collaboration with the Ministry of Jal Shakti. This initiative is intended to support irrigation in regions where water availability remains limited within the Saryu canal command area. The pressure irrigation system has been implemented as a pilot project since April 2025.

Officials say that under this programme, irrigation facilities could be expanded to around 131,000 hectares through phased implementation. Overall, authorities estimate that approximately 95,000 hectares of additional irrigation capacity may be achieved through outlet construction and canal gap filling, while the rest will be developed through pressure irrigation systems. The expansion of the Saryu Nahar Project is expected to gradually extend irrigation coverage in parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, where agriculture remains highly dependent on monsoon rainfall and canal-based water supply.