<p>The Sarda Canal, constructed during the second decade of the twentieth century in the United Provinces, has been one of the longest irrigation systems in the world, covering more than 6,000,000 acres. The canal comprised about 4000 miles of main line and distributaries that took off from the Sarda River at Katarniyaghat in Kheri district of the Nainital region and passed through the various districts of the region. During the course of the construction of the canal, malarial fever and other related diseases also erupted and affected the public health in the nearby regions. Subsequently, the Director of Public Health, United Provinces, set up a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. A. N. Mukerji in 1920 to undertake a preliminary survey and suggest anti-malarial measures. Subsequently, D. Clyde published a report titled ‘Report on the Control of Malaria during the Sarda Canal Construction, 1920–1929’. However, the historiography on canals in India has mainly dealt with the construction and public works aspect, but how it affected public health has not been highlighted. Viewed in this context, the present paper explores how the construction of Sarda Canal led to the transmission of malaria disease and affected public health. Subsequently, it also studies the response of the colonial state and its policies to deal with the situation.</p>