Read the following passage and answer the question:
Indira Gandhi canal, previously known as the Rajasthan canal, is one of the largest canal systems in India. Conceived by Kanwar Sain in 1948, the canal project was launched on 31 March 1958. The canal originates at Harike barrage in Punjab and runs parallel to Pakistan border at an average distance of 40 km in Thar Desert (Marusthali) of Rajasthan. The total planned length of the system is 9,060 km, catering to the irrigation needs of a total culturable command area of 19.63 lakh hectares. Out of the total command area, about 70 percent was envisaged to be irrigated by flow system and the rest by lift system. The construction work of the canal system has been carried out through two stages. The command area of Stage-I lies in Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and northern part of Bikaner districts. It has a gently undulating topography and its culturable command area is 5.53 lakh hectares. The command area of Stage-II is spread over Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur and Churu districts covering culturable command area of 14.10 lakh ha. It comprises desert land dotted with shifting sand dunes and temperature soaring to 50° C in summers. In the lift canal, the water is lifted up to make it flow against the slope of the land. All the lift canals of Indira Gandhi canal system originate at the left bank of main canal while all the canals on the right bank of main canal are flow channels.
The lift canals are located
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → On the left bank of the main canal
The passage states: “All the lift canals of Indira Gandhi canal system originate at the left bank of main canal while all the canals on the right bank of main canal are flow channels.”
In a lift canal, water is lifted up so that it can flow against the slope of the land. The canals on the right bank are flow channels, not lift canals.
Note: This passage is taken from the case study ‘Indira Gandhi Canal (Nahar) Command Area’ in the chapter ‘Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context’ (India: People and Economy), almost word for word.