​​​​​​​Bhubaneswar, Dec 24: The Odisha Cabinet on Wednesday approved a major irrigation infrastructure project for Kalahandi district.

The Cabinet chaired by CM Mohan Charan Majhi cleared the tender for the construction of an underground pipeline irrigation system covering a total culturable command area (CCA) of 5,000 hectares under the Sandul Barrage Project.

The project will be implemented on an EPC–turnkey basis and will include operation and maintenance of the fully commissioned system for a period of five years.

The execution cost of the project has been approved at ₹154.72 crore (excluding GST), while the operation and maintenance component for five years will cost ₹7.73 crore (excluding GST). The entire project is scheduled to be completed within 30 calendar months.

Once completed, the underground pipeline irrigation system will provide assured kharif irrigation to 1,887 hectares in Karlamunda block, 409 hectares in Narla block, and 2,704 hectares in Kesinga block of Kalahandi district.