Before starting the work of setting up multi-crore Punasa lift irrigation project in Khandwa, a group of engineers of Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) in Madhya Pradesh will take up a study tour to Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh next month, officers said.

The NVDA aims to irrigate 35,000 hectares of land in Khandwa district by means of its upcoming Rs 418.50 crore lift irrigation project on Punasa dam of Indira Sagar Hydel Project, officers added.

The group of engineers will study design and operational system of the lift irrigation systems in Maharashtra and AP, they said.

The Punasa lift irrigation system will have a power consumption of 5.2 mw to lift 130 million cubic meter (MCM) of water from the dam, they added.

NVDA has decided to start the work of Punasa irrigation project shortly to ensure that it is completed this year, they said.