Vijay urges PM for interlinking of rivers at the earliest

Chennai, Aug 7:

Noting that Tamil Nadu, an inherently deficient state in water resources and depends on neighbouring states for more than 30 per cent of its water needs, Chief Minister Vijay on Thursday evening wrote to Prime Minister Narnedra Modi urging him for the speedy implementation of the Godavari-Cauvery-Gundar link project.

In a Demi-Official letter to Mr Modi, he said the Godavari – Cauvery – Gundar Link  which represents the most significant long term opportunity for augmenting Tamil Nadu’s surface water resources is of vital importance to redress the growing needs of drinking water and irrigation for the population in Tamil Nadu.

The southern districts of Tamil Nadu, particularly Pudukkottai, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar, are chronically water-scarce and highly drought-prone, he said, adding, the most sustainable means of addressing their growing water requirements, therefore would be the implementation of the Godavari–Cauvery–Vaigai–Gundar Link Project, which would facilitate the transfer of surplus floodwaters from water-surplus basins to water-deficit regions.

Pointing out that the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has prepared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Godavari–Pennar–Palar–Vellar Link as Phase-I of the larger project, he said this component is envisaged to benefit Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

However, the alignment covered by the DPR presently terminates a few kilometers upstream of the Cauvery River, Vijay said and requested that the project of inter-linking of Godavari – Cauvery – Gundar rivers which is a project of National importance be taken up on priority basis.

Exuding confidence of achieving the project and resolving differences if any between States could be resolved through constructive consultation and cooperative federalism, keeping in view the larger national interest, the Chief Minister requested Mr Modi that considering the strategic importance and far-reaching socio-economic benefits of the project, Godavari–Cauvery–Gundar Link Project be taken up on a fast-track basis and may be given the status of a “project of national importance”.

The constitution of a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle, with the participation of the Union Government and the beneficiary States, may also be considered to facilitate coordinated implementation, assured funding and timely completion, he said, adding, its early execution would benefit the people and farming communities of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Stating that the TN Government remains fully committed to extending all necessary cooperation for the expeditious and successful implementation of this nationally important project, Vijay earnestly requested the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the NWDA to expedite consultations with the stakeholder States and facilitate an early consensus on the outstanding issues; finalise the DPR for extending the link up to the Kattalai Barrage across the river Cauvery; accord priority to the project and take it up for implementation as a National Project on a fast-track basis and iv. consider establishing a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle for its coordinated and time-bound execution and declare the project as a project of national importance.

The Chief Minister informed Mr Modi that his personal intervention in this matter would contribute significantly to achieving long-term water security for the water-deficit regions of southern India and advancing the national objective of equitable and sustainable utilisation of our precious water resources.