Delays in the reconstruction and relining of the Rajasthan Feeder Canal in Punjab's Faridkot region have completely halted water supply to Rajasthan for nearly 45 days, triggering a severe drinking water and irrigation crises across western parts of Rajasthan. 

Punjab releases the canal water to Rajasthan every year on May 11 but the same was not done on Tuesday as the construction work of the canal was underway. 

The officials in Rajasthan asked the Punjab government to restore water supply. About 12 districts in western Rajasthan rely heavily on the Rajasthan Feeder Canal and the Indira Gandhi Canal system for drinking water and irrigation.

The canal network, one of India’s largest irrigation systems, carries Sutlej-Beas river water from the Harike Barrage in Punjab’s Ferozepur district deep into the Thar Desert.