Bhubaneswar, Oct 16 (IANS): The Odisha government on Monday announced a Rs 1,250 crore mega irrigation system, named Gangadhar Meher Lift Canal System, in the state's Bargarh district.

The announcement of the project came ahead of the by-election to Bijepur assembly constituency in Bargarh which was necessitated following the death of sitting Congress member Subal Sahu in August.

"This project will irrigate a gross command area of about 32,000 hectares including 25,600 hectares in Kharif and 7,000 hectares in Rabi season. It will cost about Rs 1,250 crore," said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The project will pump water from Bargarh Main Canal through an 18 km-long underground rising main pipeline, from which irrigation will be provided through underground pipelines based distribution system with outlets for every four hectares of land, he said.

"The project will utilise latest technologies in irrigation and will be developed as a model project for the entire country," he added.