Lower Ganga Canal

The Lower Ganga Canal is a significant irrigation system in Uttar Pradesh, India, extending 5,120 miles (8,240 km) with its branches. It begins at Naraura and is part of a larger canal network in the Ganges-Yamuna Doab region, which has been used for irrigation since ancient times.12

This canal system, along with others like the Upper Ganga Canal, plays a crucial role in increasing the production of cash crops such as sugarcane, cotton, and oilseeds in the fertile Ganges valley. The development of canals in this region was historically extended by the British, building upon earlier systems constructed by Muslim rulers and the Mughals. While the primary function is irrigation, the historical use of the Ganges and its tributaries for navigation has declined with the advent of railways and increased water withdrawal for irrigation.13