The Indira Gandhi Canal Project (IGCP) -- one of the largest canal systems of its kind in the world, is a human effort to transfer a part of the vast desolate waste tract of the Thar desert of India, into a land of plenty and prosperity. Present empirical investigation -- based on an extensive field study of the already completed part of the project -- seeks to assess the impact of IGCP on rural upliftment, through varied agro-economic variables: demographic changes; occupational pattern; income, consumption and savings; irrigation and water distribution system; land use and cropping pattern; agricultural modernisation and productivity. Also offered are some suggestions for future planning.

The author of this work is presently the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Sistan and Baluchestan.