Orissa government today approved a plan for construction of a 42-km long canal to irrigate about 12,000 hectare of agricultural land and two check dams in tribal dominated Nabarangpur district, official sources said.

The decision in this regard was taken at a high level meeting chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik here. "While Rs 200 crore will be spent on the canal project, Rs 18 crore is earmarked for construction of two check dams," the water resource secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra told reporters after the meeting.

The 42-km long canal would originate from Indravati reservior and continue till Majhiguda block in Nabarangpur district, he said adding that a detailed project report (DPR) was being prepared to start construction work soon.

The proposed canal was likely to benefit about 5,000 farmers families at 70 villages under three blocks in Nabarangpur district, the official pointed out.

Similarly, the two check dams over Badriguda nullha would reserve water over 18 km long stretch. The reserved water in the check dam would be utilised for irrigation of about 60 hectare of land and other purposes.

The approval of the project had fulfilled a long standing demand of the tribal farmers in Nabarangpur as they were deprived of getting water to their fields due to non-availability of canal, local MLA Manohar Randhari said.