KalingaTV News Network
Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on his 71st birthday, today announced to implement Bijepur Lift canal system at an estimated cost of Rs 1250 crores in Baragrah district of the state.
The project, which would be the first of its kind with under ground pipeline in the country, will be named as Gangadhar Meher Lift Canal System.
“The project will irrigate a gross command area of about 32000 hectares including 25,600 hectares in khariff and 7,000 hectares in Rabi season in Bijepur area , one of the drought prone region of the district.
“The project will pump water from Baragarh main canal through a 18 km long underground rising main pipeline, where irrigation will be provided through underground pipelines based distribution system with outlets for every four hectares of land”, said the Chief Minister.
The project will utilise latest technologies in irrigation and will be developed as a model project for the entire country, he claimed.
“My Government accords topmost priority to agriculture. We are on course to create additional irrigation potential of 10 lakh hectores in the state during the five years period by 2019.”said the Chief Minister.
Interestingly, the announcement came when all the leading political parties in the state have geared up for the Bijepur by-poll. The Bijepur assembly seat had fallen vacant due to the demise of Congress MLA subal Sahu recently.
Ms Kalinga